A Russian serviceman was killed when his car exploded in Saint Petersburg on November 12, 2026. The Investigative Committee has opened a murder investigation.
A Russian serviceman was killed when his car exploded in Saint Petersburg on Thursday, November 12, 2026. The explosion occurred at about 7 am in the Shushary area of the city's Pushkinsky district, on Kolpino Highway, leaving the vehicle badly damaged. A passing bus also had its windows shattered by the blast.
Russian news outlet Fontanka reported that the victim was a colonel serving as chief navigator of the 6th Air and Air Defence Army. According to the outlet, an explosive device attached beneath his vehicle was remotely detonated as he drove away. Fontanka reported that a family member nearby had been also hurt.
Russian authorities have not officially identified the serviceman or confirmed the cause of the explosion. The Investigative Committee has opened a murder investigation, with forensic experts examining the scene.
Another outlet, UkrMedia, reported that the officer was alone in the car and died at the scene. It said the explosive device was attached to the underside of the car and detonated remotely as the officer was driving out of the courtyard. UkrMedia also reported that the identity of the colonel, his unit, and the possible organizers of the explosion have not yet been established.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the arrest of four individuals in the cities of Donetsk, Maykop, and Omsk on charges of espionage and plotting acts of sabotage on behalf of Ukrainian intelligence services. The FSB said the detainees included three Russian citizens and one foreign national, and that they acted under the direct guidance of Ukrainian handlers.
The blast comes more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Several Russian military officials have since been killed in attacks on Russian territory, some of which have been attributed to Kyiv, although Ukrainian authorities rarely claim responsibility. Investigators have not established any connection between Thursday's explosion and the war.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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