Former Ukrainian PM’s Aide Seriously Injured in Moscow Car Blast – Reports

Nov. 13, 2026 @msk7days / Telegram A former aide to Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov was hospitalized in serious condition Friday after an explosion beneath his SUV in southern Moscow, the Kommersant newspaper reported. Sergei Zavorotny, a 72-year-old journalist, was driving on Kirovogradskaya Ulitsa in the Chertanovo district when the blast occurred. Passersby gave him first aid before he was taken to the hospital, Kommersant said. Kommersant reported that investigators were treating the blast as attempted murder and suspected possible involvement by Ukrainian intelligence services. The Moscow blast came a day after a car bomb killed a Russian serviceman in St. Petersburg. The local broadcaster 78.ru reported that the victim was a colonel in the Russian Aerospace Forces. Another Russian military officer was killed in a car explosion in the same St. Petersburg neighborhood in August. Born in the Far East city of Khabarovsk, Zavorotny spent much of his career in Ukraine and worked for Azarov during Viktor Yanukovych’s presidency. He reportedly moved to Russia after the 2014 Maidan Revolution that toppled Yanukovych and went on to voice pro-Kremlin and anti-Western views. In 2018, Zavorotny presented a book he co-wrote about Yanukovych’s downfall at the Biblio-Globus bookstore in Moscow. The book’s title portrayed the events of 2014 as a surrender to the U.S. State Department. Read more about: Moscow , Ukraine war 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 Nearly 9K Ukrainian Drones Targeted Moscow in August, Mayor Says Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed air defenses intercepted the “vast majority” of the drones before they reached the city outskirts. 1 Min read Top Russian Cruise Missile Engineer Gunned Down Near Moscow – Reports Mikhail Shatsky reportedly oversaw updates to some of the types of missiles that are used to attack Ukraine. 1 Min read Two Drones Shot Down Near Moscow, Says Russia Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on the Telegram messaging app that "both [drones] were shot down by air defense." 1 Min read Moscow Mayor Says Air Defense Shot Down Drone "Today at around 11 am a drone attempted to make a breakthrough toward Moscow, " Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram. 1 Min read