Car Bomb Kills Military Officer in St. Petersburg

Aug. 27, 2026 @fontankaspb / Telegram A Russian military official has been killed in a car explosion in St. Petersburg, investigators said Thursday, with local media identifying his rank as lieutenant colonel. The blast occurred around 10 a.m. local time near a supermarket in the Shushary neighborhood, the news outlet Fontanka reported. Investigators later confirmed the military official’s death but described the incident only as a “vehicle fire,” not an explosion. They also said his wife, who was also inside the car at the time of the blast, was receiving medical treatment. The Investigation Committee, Russia’s top investigative body, said it launched a criminal probe into the incident. Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out several assassinations of military officers since the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian sources have claimed responsibility for some of the attacks while denying involvement in others. There was no immediate comment from officials in Kyiv in response to Thursday’s reported blast. A Russian military officer was last killed in a bomb attack in annexed Crimea earlier this month. Police arrested a woman suspected of assassinating him on behalf of Ukraine. Read more about: St. Petersburg Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Says Downed Ukrainian Drone Over Leningrad Region Earlier, authorities had suspended flights to and from Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg "to ensure safety." 2 Min read St. Petersburg Boosts Security Measures Amid Drone Strikes A drone crashed into an apartment building on the north side of the city over the weekend, causing an explosion that injured eight people. 2 Min read Quietly Take Queer Tours Through Moscow and St. Petersburg With a pair of earphones, Russia's LBGTQ+ community can safely feel part of a larger history. 3 Min read Daria Trepova Sentenced to 27 Years for Pro-War Blogger's Killing The sentence for the assassination of Vladlen Tatarsky is the harshest known sentence handed down to a woman in modern Russian history. 2 Min read