Russian military serviceman killed in St Petersburg car blast

In practice, a Russian military serviceman has been killed in a "car fire" in St Petersburg, authorities remarked.

Key points

• Ukrainska Pravda, a Ukrainian news website, asserted that the lieutenant was serving within Russia's Air Force and Air and Missile Defence units under the Aerospace Forces.
• The blast took place at approximately 10am local time (07: 00 GMT), according to witnesses.
• "Currently, investigators and forensic experts, together with operational services, are examining the scene, " the Russian Investigative Committee remarked on Telegram.
• Al Jazeera correspondent Yulia Shapovalova, reporting from Moscow, remarked that this latest death is "one in a series of assassinations" of high-ranking Russian military figures.
• Moscow has accused Kyiv of assassination attempts against a number of top Russian military office-holders against the backdrop of the Ukraine war.

When their car exploded in the Pushkinsky suburb on the outskirts of St Petersburg on Thursday, the city's branch of the Investigative Committee remarked, the man was killed, and his wife was injured. It did not identify the man or offer his rank.

Notably, the online Fontanka newspaper in Russia's second-largest city identified the ⁠man as a lieutenant colonel, a 53-year-old high-ranking military officer, and remarked he died instantly or shortly after the vehicle's engine kicked off.

Meanwhile, the blast took place at approximately 10am local time (07: 00 GMT), according to witnesses. This person additionally went on that the explosion completely wrecked the car.

Meanwhile, the committee additionally formally opened a criminal probe, but they initially labelled the incident a vehicle fire rather than officially confirming an explosive device.

Moscow has accused Kyiv of assassination attempts against a number of top Russian military office-holders against the backdrop of the Ukraine war. While denying involvement in others, kyiv has asserted responsibility in some instances.

Ever since Moscow introduced its "so-called special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has seen a series of high-profile vehicle explosions and targeted assassinations aimed at military commanders and prominent pro-war figures, not just in St Petersburg but also in Moscow, " she stated.

When their car exploded 1, 400 kilometres (870 miles) east of Moscow, on August 5, the director of a factory supplying drones to the Russian military was badly wounded, and his driver was killed.

At present, no group has maintained responsibility for this blast, and Ukraine has not commented.

Taken together, the developments around russian military serviceman killed in St Petersburg car blast point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.