Restaurant Explosion in Central Moscow Kills 3, Injures 15, Police Say

By Reuters Aug. 1, 2026 Three people were killed and 15 injured in an explosion that went off near a summer restaurant terrace in central Moscow on Saturday evening, the Russian capital's police force said. The explosion occurred at around 8:00 p.m. near a summer terrace located on the ground floor of one of Moscow's seven Stalin-era skyscrapers at Kudrinksaya Ploshchad, the police said. Those injured had received wounds of varying seriousness, it said. Investigators and emergency services were working at the scene. Russian state TV suggested the explosion may have been caused by a gas canister detonating. Reuters could not confirm that. Russia's state RIA news agency released video of heavily armed law enforcement officers at the scene, which had been closed off to the public. The Baza online news outlet, which has good contacts with law enforcement, said the explosion had occurred at the upscale Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant. The restaurant's website said the venue had been closed on Saturday for a private event. Read more about: Moscow 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 Moscow Sees Major Spike in Virus Cases After Extended Holiday Moscow's chief infectious disease specialist linked the spike, the highest since Jan. 17, to the early-May non-working period. In Photos: Navalny Protests Sweep Moscow Despite Crackdown Thousands marched through Russia's capital on Sunday despite a lockdown and mass arrests. Moscow Lifts Restrictions as Coronavirus Cases Recede The city's nighttime bar and restaurant curfew has been lifted and employers are no longer required to have 30% of staff work remotely. Russia Police Violence in Spotlight After 3,500 Protesters Detained It was the largest number of detentions at opposition rallies in the history of modern Russia.