St. Petersburg Car Blast Kills Russian Aerospace Forces Officer

Nov. 12, 2026 @supernova_plus / Telegram A senior Russian military officer was killed when an explosive device detonated under his vehicle in a southern suburb of St. Petersburg, investigators said Thursday. The explosion occurred at around 7:00 a.m. local time in the city’s Pushkinsky district, according to law enforcement and media reports. The victim was a colonel serving in the Russian Aerospace Forces’ 6th Guards Air and Air Defense Forces Army, according to sources cited by the local broadcaster 78.ru. His name was not disclosed. The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top investigative body, confirmed that it launched a criminal case into an unidentified soldier’s death by a car bomb. “All the circumstances of the incident are being established,” it said in a statement. An explosive device attached to the officer’s car detonated after he drove around 300 meters (984 feet) from his apartment building, reported 78.ru and Fontanka, a St. Petersburg news outlet. The Shushary neighborhood, where the incident occurred, is the same location another Russian military official was killed in a car explosion in August. Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out several assassinations of military officers since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian sources have claimed responsibility for some of the attacks while denying involvement in others. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: St. Petersburg , 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 Putin Threatens to Arm Countries That Could Hit Western Targets In a rare press conference with foreign news outlets, Putin also discussed the U.S. presidential election and jailed U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich. 3 Min read Russia Blames Ukraine, Opposition for Pro-War Blogger’s Bomb Killing Kyiv has denied involvement in the death of Vladlen Tatarsky. 3 Min read St. Petersburg Artwork Celebrating City's Ties to Mariupol Removed Authorities in Russia’s second city St. Petersburg removed a piece of public art celebrating the city’s friendship with its twin city Mariupol... Putin Tells Factory Workers 'Victory Will Be Ours' in Ukraine Conflict Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had "no doubt" Moscow would emerge victorious in Ukraine on Wednesday, despite military setbacks in the nearly...