St. Petersburg car bomb kills Russian military officer

A Russian military officer was killed in a car bomb explosion in St. Petersburg on Thursday morning. The incident occurred in the Slavyanka district near Kolpinskoye Highway as the victim and his wife were leaving their residence.

Local media reports, including Fontanka, identify the deceased as a lieutenant colonel serving in the Russian Aerospace Forces or air defense units. The explosion, believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated when the engine was started, killed the officer instantly. His wife was critically injured and transported to intensive care, with reports indicating she suffered severe injuries, including potential limb amputations.

The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case following the blast. While official authorities have not yet released the officer's name or confirmed his specific rank, the incident took place in a residential area known to house military personnel.

This attack follows a pattern of targeted explosions and assassinations involving high-ranking Russian military officials and figures associated with the war in Ukraine. While Russia has previously accused Ukraine of involvement in such operations, there has been no immediate comment from Kyiv regarding this specific incident.