LAST UPDATE | 24 Dec 2025

TWO POLICE OFFICERS were killed in an overnight explosion in Moscow when they tried to stop a suspicious person, Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement.

The blast occurred close to the site where a Russian general was killed earlier this week.

“An explosive device was triggered” as the officers approached the suspect who was near their service vehicle, said the statement by the committee, which probes major crimes.

An earlier statement on Telegram said investigators were inspecting the scene and carrying out forensic analysis, including “medical and explosive examinations”.

The area was cordoned off and had a large police presence, according to images broadcast on Russian television, which quoted witnesses describing an explosion that occurred at around 1:30 am (10.3opm Irish Time).

The blast took place near where Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov was killed on Monday by an explosive device that had been placed under his parked car.

Sarvarov had been the head of the Russian General Staff’s training department.

Since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has been blamed for several attacks targeting Russian military officials and pro-Kremlin figures both in Russia and in occupied parts of Ukraine.

Kyiv has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks.

A source in Ukraine’s GUR secret services welcomed the “elimination” of the police officers, who they said, without providing evidence, had fought in Ukraine and “tortured Ukrainian prisoners of war.”

In a statement, the GUR source said the attack was carried out by a “local resident” and did not claim to have been involved.

- © AFP 2025