Russian news outlets on Monday reported that at least 1 person had died and four injured after a bomb detonated at an upscale luxury apartment block in capital Moscow.
Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency indentified a Ukrainian person whom Kyiv accuses of helping Russian forces in its war efforts as being the intended target.
RIA, another state news agency, cited law enforcement as saying the Ukrainian man, identified as Armen Sarkisyan was in a critical condition, and that part of his leg was being amputated.
“The assassination attempt on Sarkisyan was carefully planned and was ordered. Investigators are currently identifying those who ordered the crime,” TASS quoted a law enforcement official as saying.
There is no confirmation about Russia’s claim.
What do we know about the attack?
The bomb ripped through the lobby of the “Scarlet Sails” complex, going off just as a man with bodyguards entered, Russian media reported.
Media reports initially suggested that Sarkisyan was dead, but later said he survived the attack.
“Sarkisyan is hospitalized. His condition is seen as extremely serious,” the Interfax news agency quoted a law enforcement source as saying.
Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has seen a string of assassinations and explosions.
In December, Russian General Igor Kirillov was killed in a bomb blast outside a Moscow apartment complex, for which Kyiv took credit.
Ukraine has yet to comment on Monday’s blast. In December, the country’s SBU security service referred to Sarkisyan as a “crime boss” in the Donetsk region, adding that he was officially suspected of taking part in and helping “illegal armed groups.”
This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar
