Assassination in Moscow: Pro-Russian Leader Killed in Apartment Bombing

A bomb blast at a luxury apartment complex in Moscow has resulted in the death of Armen Sarkisyan, a pro-Russian paramilitary leader, according to reports from the state news agency TASS and other Russian media outlets. The explosion occurred in the lobby of the “Scarlet Sails” building, located just 12 kilometers from the Kremlin along the Moskva River.

The attack claimed the life of one bodyguard and left three others injured, as reported by the Kommersant newspaper. TASS described the bombing, which took place on Monday local time, as a meticulously planned assassination.

Sarkisyan, originally from eastern Ukraine, was known as the founder of a volunteer battalion engaged in combat in Ukraine and served as the head of a boxing federation in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region. A law enforcement official stated, “The assassination attempt on Sarkisyan was carefully planned and was ordered. Investigators are currently identifying those who ordered the crime.”

Footage released by Baza, a Telegram channel linked to Russian security services, showed extensive damage to the building’s lobby. Reuters reporters at the scene observed police activity, shattered windows, and a helicopter transporting the injured.

This incident comes amid ongoing conflict, with Russia recently launching a barrage of missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals, according to Ukrainian officials.

Previously, in December, Ukraine’s SBU security service labeled Sarkisyan as a crime boss in the Donetsk region, which has been under Moscow’s control since 2014. He was suspected of participating in and aiding “illegal armed groups,” forming a pro-Russian military unit comprised of local convicts, and organizing supply purchases for frontline units.

Mediazona, an independent Russian outlet focused on law enforcement, reported that Sarkisyan had a longstanding history in organized crime in Horlivka, a city in the Donetsk region. In 2022, he established a pro-Russian paramilitary unit primarily made up of ethnic Armenians to combat Kyiv’s forces.

The recent blast follows Ukraine’s claim of responsibility for the December killing of Russian General Igor Kirillov in a bomb explosion outside a Moscow apartment building. As of now, there has been no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials regarding Monday’s attack.