Car explosion in St. Petersburg kills high-ranking Russian military official, wife injured

A powerful car explosion rocked St. Petersburg's Slavyanka district around 10 a.m. local time, resulting in the death of a high-ranking Russian military official. Unconfirmed reports from Russian media, including the portal Fontanka, suggest the victim was a lieutenant colonel. His wife sustained severe leg injuries and was rushed to the intensive care unit.

The explosion, which occurred shortly after the car's engine was started according to some channels citing witnesses, significantly damaged the vehicle. Debris was scattered up to several dozen meters, and nearby parked cars were also damaged. The incident has prompted a criminal investigation by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, though official confirmation of the victim's identity and the cause of the explosion is still pending.

This incident is the latest in a series of car explosions targeting Russian military and security personnel in Russia and occupied Crimea. Previously, an explosion in a Moscow restaurant on August 1 killed at least three people and injured over 20, with unconfirmed reports suggesting a high-ranking military official may have been the target. Another explosion in Sevastopol on August 13 killed Robert Shagayev, a former Ukrainian military officer who had defected to Russia after the annexation of Crimea.