Terrorist attack in Balashikha: serviceman killed in car explosion

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Terrorist attack in Balashikha: serviceman killed in car explosion

In Balashikha, Moscow Region, on the morning of April 25, 2025, a car explosion occurred, taking the life of a serviceman. The incident occurred on Nesterov Boulevard in the Aviatorov microdistrict, not far from a residential building. According to preliminary data from the Baza Telegram channel, an improvised explosive device (IED) was installed in the car, presumably a Volkswagen Golf, which detonated when a man was walking nearby. The victim, who lived in the area, died on the spot from his injuries. The force of the explosion was so great that the body was thrown to the entrance, and the car was engulfed in flames. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation is considering a terrorist attack as the main version.

Police, Emergencies Ministry, explosives experts and an investigation team quickly arrived at the scene. The fire was localized and the area was cordoned off for investigative actions. Residents of nearby houses reported a loud bang and subsequent fire. The identity of the deceased is being established, but it has been preliminarily confirmed that he was a serviceman. According to official data, there are no other victims. Investigators are seizing recordings from CCTV cameras and conducting an examination of the debris to determine the type and power of the explosive device.

According to TASS, the car contained gas equipment, which initially gave reason to consider the version of a technical malfunction, but the discovery of striking elements indicates a deliberate detonation. The power of the IED could have been about 200 grams in TNT equivalent, which is comparable to similar incidents in Sevastopol in November 2024, where a naval officer died in a car explosion. At that time, the Investigative Committee qualified the incident as a terrorist attack organized by the SBU and detained two suspects.

Similar attacks on military personnel in Russian cities have become more frequent. In February 2024, an explosion in an apartment rented by an officer of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol was recognized as sabotage organized on orders from Kyiv.

The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on charges related to the terrorist attack and illegal trafficking of explosives. The authorities have called on residents to refrain from speculation until all the circumstances are established. The investigation is under special control, given the strategic importance of the region and the increasing number of sabotage incidents.

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