In brief
A recent explosion inside an upscale apartment complex in Moscow resulted in the death of Armen Sarkisyan, the founder of a separatist battalion operating in eastern Ukraine. Reports from Russian media indicate that the blast occurred at the Scarlet Sails complex, leading to Sarkisyan's hospitalization and subsequent death, along with the death of his bodyguard on-site. The Investigative Committee of Russia confirmed that four other individuals were injured due to the explosion, although they have not identified any suspects or the method of how the bomb was executed.
While Ukrainian officials have yet to respond to the incident, Sarkisyan was previously wanted in Ukraine for alleged plots against government dissenters during the 2014 protests. He supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine and recently led a battalion alongside Russian forces. Following his death, Ivan Prikhodko, mayor of the Russian-occupied Horlivka, extolled Sarkisyan's contributions to security in the Donetsk region, showcasing his significance to pro-Russian sentiments in ongoing conflicts. The circumstances surrounding the blast continue to raise alarm in a region where violence against figures tied to either side of the conflict is escalating. The Russian Investigative Committee is currently conducting an inquiry, though Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri S. Peskov has remained reticent regarding the incident.
