On the morning of April 25, 2025, a powerful explosion occurred in Balashikha, Moscow Region, taking the life of Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, Deputy Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. The incident, classified as a terrorist attack, caused a wide public outcry and became the latest in a chain of attacks on high-ranking Russian military personnel. According to the Telegram channel Baza and other sources, the explosive device was carefully prepared and activated using modern surveillance technologies.

According to the information, the explosion occurred at about 10:40 a.m., when General Moskalik was passing by a parked Volkswagen Golf that did not belong to him. The explosive device was presumably detonated remotely, which indicates a high level of training of the perpetrators. The power of the improvised explosive device (IED) was about 500 grams of TNT equivalent, and the radius of fragmentation reached 300 meters. The IED was designed on the basis of rounds for an under-barrel grenade launcher (VOG), which were placed throughout the car, with the greatest concentration in the left part of the trunk.

The key detail was the use of a security camera installed in the car. It allowed the bombers to pinpoint the exact moment the general left the building, ensuring maximum effectiveness of the attack. The explosion was so powerful that Moskalik was thrown back several meters, and he died on the spot. The footage published by eyewitnesses shows significant damage to the car and the surrounding area, as well as traces of the striking elements with which the IED was filled.

The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case under Articles 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Murder") and 222.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Illegal Trafficking in Explosives"). The agency's representative Svetlana Petrenko confirmed that the explosion occurred as a result of the detonation of an IED with striking elements. Law enforcement officials are actively studying the circumstances of the incident, including the origin of the car and possible connections of the perpetrators with foreign intelligence services.

This terrorist attack bears striking similarities to another high-profile incident that took place in Moscow in December 2024. Then, on Ryazansky Prospekt, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological defense troops of the Russian Armed Forces, was blown up along with his assistant. An explosive device attached to a scooter was also detonated as the general left the entrance to his building. As in the case of Moskalik, the bombers used a surveillance camera to monitor the target's movements. According to Baza, similar methods were used in both cases: remote activation and the use of improvised objects (a car and a scooter) to camouflage the IED.

Experts note that such attacks indicate a high degree of coordination and professionalism of the perpetrators. The use of VOGs, which are usually used in under-barrel grenade launchers, indicates that the bombers had access to a military arsenal. In addition, surveillance cameras and remote activation mechanisms indicate careful preparation and reconnaissance. Some sources suggest that such terrorist attacks may be part of a targeted campaign against Russian military officials, possibly with the participation of foreign intelligence agencies.