- Explosion at a Moscow restaurant has resulted in the deaths of at least three people, with reports indicating the death toll may rise to five as two individuals succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin condemned the bombing as a 'brutal terrorist attack' and stated that those responsible would be punished, while heavily armed law enforcement officers sealed off the scene.
- Unverified social media reports suggested that a top Russian military commander may have been the intended target of the attack but was unharmed. This incident occurs as Russia continues its conflict with Ukraine, having promised better protection for military officials following previous assassination attempts.
- The Kommersant daily reported that the woman carrying the bomb may not have been aware of it, suggesting it was detonated remotely by another individual.
- The attack has drawn parallels to a 2023 bombing that killed pro-war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, for which Darya Trepova was sentenced to 27 years for delivering a bomb concealed in a statuette.
- Kyiv has not provided any immediate comment regarding the bombing incident.
- Russian war bloggers have attributed blame for the attack to Ukraine, although they did not provide any evidence to support their claims.
An explosion at the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant in Moscow on Saturday evening resulted in at least three fatalities and 21 injuries. The blast occurred around 8 p.m. when a woman carrying a homemade bomb attempted to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard.
According to Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAK), the woman, the guard, and a customer were killed instantly in the explosion. Reports suggest the death toll may rise to five as two individuals later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital, although this has not been officially confirmed.156
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the incident as a “brutal terrorist attack” and vowed that those responsible would face justice. He expressed condolences to the victims' families and emphasized the need for accountability.234
The attack has sparked speculation on social media, with unverified claims suggesting it may be linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Some Russian war bloggers have pointed fingers at Ukraine, although no evidence has been provided. NAK indicated that the woman may not have been aware of the bomb, which could have been detonated remotely by another party.711
This incident echoes a previous bombing in 2023 that killed pro-war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, raising concerns about the safety of high-ranking military officials amid ongoing tensions with Ukraine. More than four years into the conflict, Russia has promised enhanced protection for its military leaders following a series of assassination attempts.89
“REN TV, citing a source, reported two hospitalized victims later died, pushing the unofficial death toll to five without official confirmation. Unverified social media reports suggested a top Russian military commander was the intended target but unharmed, and Russian war bloggers blamed Ukraine without evidence.”
The Globe and Mail
