Explosion kills man at elite Moscow apartment complex (Live Updates)
An explosion has hit an elite apartment complex in northwestern Moscow, leaving at least one person dead and several others injured, officials have said.
The blast occurred in a building at the Alye Parusa residential complex located on the banks of the Moskva River.
According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, at least one person was killed in the explosion, with four other people injured.
Media reports suggest that the blast was intended as a hit on Armen Sarkisyan, the founder of the Arbat Battalion fighting against Ukrainian forces, with media reports indicating that he was seriously injured. Sarkisyan is listed in the notorious Ukrainian Mirotvorets database – often referred to as a ‘kill list’ – due to his support for Moscow’s special military operation.
Later, the Shot and Baza Telegram channels reported that Sarkisyan died in the hospital.
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03 February 2025
10:20 GMTThe explosive device was planted in Alye Parusa this morning, TASS has reported, citing law enforcement agencies.
- 09:46 GMT
Russian law enforcement agencies are investigating the explosion at the elite residential complex, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. “The information is being clarified; the work is underway. For now, we can’t comment on this.”
- 09:18 GMT
According to TASS, the device that went off in the Alye Parusa had a TNT equivalent of up to 1kg.
- 09:17 GMT
A delivery person or a utility company employee could have sneaked an explosive device into the elite residential complex, TASS has reported, citing a law enforcement source.
- 08:54 GMT
Armen Sarkisyan, the founder of the Arbat Battalion, who was reportedly the main target of the explosion, is on the notorious Ukrainian state-linked Mirotvorets (Peacemaker) database, often described as Kiev’s “kill list.”
The database describes Sarkisyan as a “traitor” collaborating with Russia, as well as “an accomplice to the crimes of the Russian government against Ukraine and its citizens.”
- 08:32 GMT
The condition of Sarkisyan, the founder of the Arbat Battalion, who was allegedly hit by the explosion, is unclear, with Interfax reporting that he was killed. However, according to Mash, Sarkisyan is currently in serious condition and receiving treatment.
- 08:32 GMT
Four people injured in the explosion are in serious condition, TASS has reported, citing Moscow’s Health Department.
- 08:16 GMT
Those injured have been transported to a hospital by a medical helicopter, according to a video shared by Shot and several other media outlets.
- 08:16 GMT
According to media reports, the Arbat Battalion, which was founded two years ago, initially fought Kiev’s forces in Donbass before being redeployed to Kursk Region to repel Ukraine’s large-scale incursion last summer.
