A high-ranking Russian general was killed in a car explosion near Moscow on the same day Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, for key peace talks.
The Russian government identified the victim as Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of operations for Russia’s armed forces.
The attack was similar to past incidents that Ukraine has taken responsibility for and could impact Friday’s peace discussions between Russia and the U.S.
The Kremlin released a short video showing Putin and Witkoff shaking hands and chatting before starting their closed-door meeting at a white oval table. Witkoff, who has no official diplomatic title, was joined by top Putin advisers Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev. A few hours later, Witkoff’s car was seen leaving the Kremlin.
Trump highlighted the importance of Witkoff’s visit—his fourth recent trip to Russia—saying a peace deal might be close. “The next few days are going to be very important,” Trump said on Thursday. “I think we’re going to make a deal … I think we’re getting very close.”
However, the next day Trump admitted the talks were “very fragile” and said there was no set deadline for reaching a peace agreement.
In a Time magazine interview published Friday, Trump also said “Crimea will stay with Russia,” increasing pressure on Ukraine to make concessions even as the country remains under attack. During the interview, Trump posed next to a portrait of himself, reportedly a gift from Putin—another sign of their close relationship that has raised concerns in Ukraine and Europe.
Reuters released two sets of documents Friday showing different U.S. and Ukrainian proposals for ending the war, with clear disagreements on issues such as land control and sanctions.
This latest suspected Ukrainian attack inside Russia could complicate Trump’s efforts to show progress before his 100th day back in office next week.
Even though Putin has refused to agree to a ceasefire and continues missile strikes in Ukraine, Trump has repeatedly criticized Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, over the lack of progress in peace talks while speaking more carefully about Putin.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said the explosion was caused by a homemade bomb filled with shrapnel and confirmed a criminal investigation is underway.
According to Baza, a Telegram channel linked to Russian law enforcement, the bomb was planted in a parked car and detonated remotely as Moskalik walked by in Balashikha, a town near Moscow where he lived.
Footage posted on Russian social media captured the explosion, and photos showed the car completely destroyed by fire.
Ukrainian officials have not commented on the incident.
Since the war began, Ukraine has targeted many Russian military leaders and officials it accuses of war crimes. However, little is known about the secret Ukrainian groups behind such attacks in Russia or occupied areas.
In December, Ukrainian security forces reportedly killed another Russian general using a bomb hidden in an electric scooter outside a Moscow apartment building.
At that time, Keith Kellogg—Trump’s former national security adviser and special envoy—criticized the killing of Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, calling it potentially a violation of wartime rules.
Besides military targets, Ukraine has also struck Russian propagandists, including Darya Dugina, daughter of a far-right ideologue, who died in 2023 when a bomb blew up her car.
Moskalik, 59, had taken part in key international Russian delegations over the years, including talks with Ukraine and Western officials in 2015 and 2019, and a 2018 trip to Syria.
Sources close to the defense ministry said his role in the Russian military had been growing.
Military blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk, known for his insider connections, said Moskalik had been seen as a possible future head of Russia’s National Defence Management Centre due to his strategic thinking and calm leadership.
