21 jam yang lalu
[Ryan Robertson]
A RUSSIAN GENERAL IS DEAD AFTER A CAR BOMB EXPLODED JUST OUTSIDE MOSCOW. THE ATTACK CAME AS U.S. AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS WERE MEETING FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF PEACE TALKS.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL YAROSLAV MOSKALIK WAS KILLED WHEN A CAR RIGGED WITH EXPLOSIVES WENT OFF IN A RESIDENTIAL COURTYARD ABOUT 15 KILOMETERS FROM THE CITY CENTER.
INVESTIGATORS SAY THE BOMB WAS PACKED WITH SHRAPNEL AND MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED REMOTELY. THEY ALSO BELIEVE MOSKALIK WAS BEING WATCHED THROUGH A HIDDEN CAMERA INSIDE THE VEHICLE.
RUSSIA’S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS IT HAS “GROUNDS TO BELIEVE” UKRAINIAN SPECIAL FORCES WERE BEHIND THE ATTACK—BUT SO FAR, NO EVIDENCE HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC, AND UKRAINE ISN’T COMMENTING EITHER.
THE TIMING IS HARD TO IGNORE. U.S. ENVOY STEVE WITKOFF WAS IN MOSCOW—MEETING WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN—TRYING TO PUSH FORWARD A CEASEFIRE DEAL THAT INCLUDES A POSSIBLE U.S. RECOGNITION OF RUSSIA’S CLAIM OVER CRIMEA…RUSSIA IS ALSO IN THE MIDST OF INCREASED ATTACKS ON UKRAINE’S POPULATION CENTERS.
THE RECENT CAR BOMBING ISN’T THE FIRST TIME A RUSSIAN GENERAL WAS TARGETED. BACK IN DECEMBER, ANOTHER TOP OFFICER, IGOR KIRILLOV, WAS KILLED IN MUCH THE SAME WAY—BY A BOMB PLANTED IN A SCOOTER OUTSIDE HIS APARTMENT BUILDING. UKRAINE’S SECURITY SERVICES LATER TOOK CREDIT FOR THAT HIT.
MOSKALIK HAD A LONG HISTORY INSIDE RUSSIA’S GENERAL STAFF—AND PLAYED A ROLE IN EARLIER PEACE NEGOTIATIONS AFTER RUSSIA’S 2014 TAKEOVER OF CRIMEA. MILITARY BLOGGERS SAY HE WAS TOUGH, RESULTS-DRIVEN, AND NOT EXACTLY POPULAR AMONG HIS OWN RANKS.
NOW, HIS KILLING ADDS EVEN MORE TENSION TO AN ALREADY FRAGILE PEACE EFFORT. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS OFFERING TO LIFT SANCTIONS AND OPEN UP TRADE WITH RUSSIA IN EXCHANGE FOR A CEASEFIRE. UKRAINE’S PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, SAYS THERE WILL BE NO DEAL UNTIL THE BOMBINGS STOP.
THE WHITE HOUSE HASN’T WEIGHED IN YET—BUT THE KREMLIN IS ALREADY USING THE ATTACK TO ARGUE UKRAINE IS ESCALATING THE CONFLICT, JUST AS NEGOTIATIONS REACH A CRITICAL POINT.
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