VIDEO: Russian general killed in car explosion near Moscow

A Russian general was killed on Friday in a car explosion near Moscow, according to the Russian Investigative Committee, which has launched a murder investigation. Authorities say the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device.

The victim was identified as General Yaroslav Moskalik, who served as the Deputy Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff.

The explosion occurred in the town of Balashikha, just a few kilometers from Moscow, near building number 2 on Nesterov Boulevard.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the device used in the explosion contained military-grade elements and had an explosive force equivalent to over 300 grams of TNT. Shrapnel from the device will be sent for forensic analysis.

Russian investigators, forensic experts, and security units were dispatched to the scene to examine the blast site.