Conflict & Security
Russian serviceman killed in St Petersburg car blast
Russian investigators said a serviceman was killed and his wife was hospitalised when a car blew up in Saint Petersburg on Thursday.
The explosion happened in the city's southern Pushkinsky district. The Saint Petersburg-based Fontanka news channel reported that the man was a Russian army officer who served in Russia's air force and air defence forces.
Fontanka said the couple were targeted as they left their house. It published images of a car with its front badly damaged near what appeared to be a shop, with ambulances at the scene.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Kyiv has claimed responsibility for some killings of Russian military officials during the Ukraine war, while staying silent on others. The killings have been carried out using car bombs, explosives hidden in scooters and shootings.
The highest-ranking Russian military officer targeted during the war was Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who was killed outside his Moscow apartment in December 2024.
Update
Russian investigators confirmed that a serviceman was killed.
Investigators said the serviceman's wife was hospitalised.
The item adds context that Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was the highest-ranking Russian military officer targeted during the war.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 August 2026 at 12:19:48 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Responsibility for the Saint Petersburg explosion has not been established in the supplied material.
The dead man's full identity and rank were not confirmed by investigators in the supplied material.
Source
AFP news report published on .