Funeral of a Major General: Who is Valery Plohotnyuk?
Funeral services were held in Moscow for Major General Valery Plohotnyuk, whose death, according to Russian media and registries, occurred on August 1, 2026, as a result of an explosion at the elite Balzi Rossi restaurant. Official representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense and the General Prosecutor's Office have not commented on the circumstances of the death of the high-ranking officer, however, independent sources report that Plohotnyuk died during the birthday celebration of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Colonel General Alexander Chaiko.
Valery Plohotnyuk is a figure with a rich military biography. In 2011–2013, he headed the Operational Group of Russian troops in the unrecognized Transnistria, where he was responsible for coordinating the actions of Russian military personnel on the territory of Moldova. Later, he held the position of Chief of Staff of the 49th Combined Arms Army, units of which actively participated in hostilities on the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia fronts after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Explosion at Balzi Rossi: Official version and facts
According to the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC), the explosion occurred in the evening of August 1 at the entrance to the Balzi Rossi restaurant, which was closed for a private event. According to the official version, an unknown woman attempted to smuggle a homemade explosive device, disguised as a gift, into the establishment. A security guard noticed the suspicious item and attempted to stop the woman, which led to detonation.
As a result of the explosion, five people died, and another 21 were injured with varying degrees of severity. Following the incident, a criminal case was opened in Russia under the article on terrorism. However, details of the investigation, including the identity of the deceased and the motives of the perpetrators, remain classified.
Family ties and additional victims
On August 5, 2026, funeral services were also held in Moscow for Daniil Peredrya — the son-in-law of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Alexander Chaiko. According to opposition Russian media, the general's daughter, Peredrya's wife, suffered serious injuries as a result of the explosion and is currently in the intensive care unit of one of Moscow's hospitals. These reports have not yet been confirmed by official sources, but they raise serious questions about the scale of the tragedy.
Contradictory data
There are discrepancies in the versions regarding the causes and circumstances of the explosion. The official version of the Russian NAC states that the explosive device was disguised as a gift and activated by a security guard. However, independent sources, including opposition media, suggest that the explosion could have been the result of sabotage or even an internal conflict within the military leadership. Furthermore, there is no consensus on who exactly organized the event at the restaurant and why it was held in a closed mode.
Consequences and public reaction
The incident at the Balzi Rossi restaurant caused a wide resonance in Russian society and abroad. Many experts believe that the explosion could be related to internal contradictions within the Russian military leadership or the actions of foreign intelligence services. At the same time, the lack of official information about the deceased and the circumstances of the terror attack gives rise to numerous speculations and conspiracy theories.
Moscow authorities have tightened security measures in the city, especially in places where people gather and in elite establishments. However, it is still unclear who is responsible for what happened and what steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
