Car explosion in Slavyanka: lieutenant colonel killed in Saint Petersburg, his wife in intensive care

In Saint Petersburg, in the Slavyanka district, a high-ranking military officer — a lieutenant colonel — was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated in his car, while his wife was hospitalized in intensive care. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Russian outlet "Agency. News," local media, and Telegram channels. Preliminary data indicates that the explosion occurred around 10 a.m., as the man was leaving his home together with his wife.

Circumstances of the explosion

According to eyewitnesses, the explosion took place near the Magnit supermarket on Kolpinskoye Shosse. The lieutenant colonel was behind the wheel. Preliminary data suggests that an improvised explosive device was triggered inside the car, indicating a deliberate nature of the incident. At the scene, as seen in photographs, a cordon was set up and an investigative and operational team was deployed, with emergency services working on site.

Casualties and condition of the injured

The man died at the scene. His wife sustained injuries and was rushed to the hospital's intensive care unit. Official information on the severity of her condition and on the progress of the investigation was not fully disclosed at the time of publication.

Slavyanka: a district of military housing

Notably, the explosion occurred in a district that had been actively developed with residential complexes for military personnel. In 2010, apartments built for military staff were inspected by then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. According to data from 2012, about a third of the housing under construction in this district belonged to the Russian Ministry of Defense. This fact strengthens the version that the target of the attack was specifically a military officer.

Contradictory data

There are discrepancies in the details across various publications. Some sources (including ura-inform.com) describe the deceased as a lieutenant colonel of the Aerospace Forces, while others (fakty.com.ua) refer to a lieutenant colonel of the Air Force, and the basic reports settle for the phrasing "high-ranking military officer" and "lieutenant colonel." Moreover, while some outlets report the man's death as an established fact, others use the cautious wording "presumed killed." Thus, the exact branch of service of the victim and the final status of his death still require official confirmation.

Context: a series of attempts on military officers

The incident in Slavyanka fits into an alarming statistic: over the past two years, according to available data, at least six attempts on high-ranking military officers have been carried out in Russia. In April 2025, in Balashikha near Moscow, the car explosion killed Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff. In December of the same year, Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian General Staff, died in a car explosion in southern Moscow. Experts link the rise in such incidents to the escalation of risks for the military leadership against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict.