Moscow car explosion reportedly injures Russian intelligence officer. Russia says it’s investigating ‘a Ukrainian connection,’ while Kyiv denies any involvement.

On the morning of July 24, a car allegedly belonging to a Russian military officer exploded in the north of Moscow, severely injuring two people. Some sources claim that one of the victims was Andrey Torgashov, the deputy head of a military satellite communications center in the Moscow region, while others assert it was another military man with the same name. Russian media outlets have reported that due to the “identity of the injured person,” police believe Ukraine might be involved and that Russian law enforcement is investigating a “Ukrainian connection.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials say they have nothing to do with the incident and have suggested that “faulty equipment” might be to blame. Here’s what we know so far.

A car allegedly belonging to a Russian military intelligence officer exploded in Moscow on Wednesday morning. Interior Ministry spokesperson Irina Volk stated that an “unidentified object” placed in the car caused the explosion. Interfax, citing an unnamed source, reported that an explosive device equivalent to approximately 500 grams of TNT was located under the driver’s seat. Russia’s Investigative Committee said that the owner of the car and a passenger were injured in the incident. According to multiple Telegram channels, a man lost his legs in the explosion, while a woman suffered lacerations to her face. Both victims were reportedly hospitalized.

The moment of the explosion was caught on video:

The Telegram channel Astra reported that the car belonged to Andrey Torgashov, the deputy head of a military satellite communications center in the Moscow region. In turn, the Telegram channel Baza wrote that an officer from Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) was in the car. Kommersant also reported that the injured man is a Defense Ministry officer who served in the GRU and was responsible for communications in his unit. According to the publication, the officer is in serious condition.

A short time later, Andrey Torgashov’s wife told journalists that he was not the man injured in the explosion. According to her, a different person was in the car, and Torgashov is fine. Following her statements, Kommersant removed reports that Torgashov was one of the victims. Baza wrote that the male victim shares a first and last name and birth year with the officer, and is also in the Russian military, but is not associated with a satellite communications unit.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said it has opened a criminal case “in connection with the incident,” but did not specify under which article. According to Kommersant, the case is being investigated as an attempted murder, but may be reclassified as terrorism. RIA Novosti, citing a law enforcement source, reported that one theory being investigated is that the explosion was “an assassination attempt related to the victim’s professional activities.” A source told Interfax that police are investigating all possible scenarios, including “a Ukrainian connection.” Kommersant also reported that due to the “identity of the injured person,” police are investigating the possible involvement of Ukrainian intelligence services.

Russia’s Investigative Committee reported that the suspect has been identified but has already fled to Turkey. In response to a question about the possibility of extraditing the suspect to Russia, FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov said that Russia was “working with the Turks.” A source from the Telegram channel 112 claimed that, according to preliminary data, the suspect acted on the orders of Ukrainian intelligence.

Update: The suspect, a Russian citizen named Yevgeny Serebryakov, has been arrested in Turkey, according to the country’s interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya. Serebryakov was reportedly apprehended in Bodrum on Wednesday afternoon.

Ukraine has denied any involvement. Commenting on the incident, Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to the Zelensky administration, said that Kyiv had nothing to do with the explosion. “As far as I understand, there was faulty equipment there. We, of course, have nothing to do with this,” he stated.