In brief
A powerful figure in the pro-Russia separatist movement, Armen Sarkisyan, was killed in a bomb explosion at an upscale residence in Moscow, as tension escalates in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Armen Sarkisyan, founder of a separatist battalion in eastern Ukraine, was killed following a bomb blast on Monday inside the Scarlet Sails apartment complex in Moscow, according to reports from Russian authorities. The Investigative Committee stated that four others were injured in the incident, marking another violent event amid the continued strife between Russia and Ukraine.Sarkisyan, who was reported to have been taken to a hospital where he died, had previously faced accusations in Ukraine for orchestrating violent acts against anti-government activists during protests in 2014. More recently, he had supported Russia's invasion of eastern Ukraine and led a battalion that operated alongside Russian forces.The explosion, which occurred in an affluent neighborhood, mirrors previous security breaches in Moscow, including the high-profile assassination of General Igor Kirillov, further intensifying fears among individuals tied to the ongoing conflict.While details remain scarce regarding the circumstances of the explosion, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri S. Peskov stated that an inquiry would be conducted. Meanwhile, Ivan Prikhodko, mayor of the Russian-occupied Eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka, praised Sarkisyan's contributions through his battalion for ensuring security in captured territories.Footage from the scene showed a damaged entrance to the apartment complex, emphasizing the chaotic aftermath of the incident. The Russian media's delayed response in revealing suspects has fueled speculation around the motives behind the attack, raising questions on the safety of those involved in the violent political landscape in both Russia and Ukraine.
