Grim Aftermath of Car Explosion in Russia, Soldier Killed on the Spot

A car explosion in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Thursday (27/8/2026) local time killed a Russian military officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel. His wife, who was in the same vehicle, was taken to hospital. Russia has blamed Ukraine for a series of previous assassinations of senior military officials and people linked to Moscow’s war effort. Russia’s Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal case after a car caught fire, killing one person and injuring another, though it did not identify the deceased as military personnel. Ukrainian sources have claimed responsibility in some cases while denying others. Most recently, a Russian military officer was killed in a bomb attack on 13 August in Russian-annexed Crimea. A woman was later arrested on suspicion of killing him on the orders of Ukraine’s secret service.