– A police officer was killed and two others injured in Moscow early Tuesday when an attacker detonated an explosive device near a patrol car. The attacker also died at the scene, Russian authorities have confirmed. The incident occurred near the Savyolovsky Railway Station, a major transportation hub in the northern part of the city.
The Russian Interior Ministry initially reported that the attacker had fled, but later clarified that the individual was found deceased after reviewing surveillance footage. According to reports, the attacker approached the officers and detonated an explosive, causing significant damage to the patrol car.
The officer who was killed has been identified as 34-year-old Police Lieutenant Denis Bratuschenko, a senior inspector in the traffic police. He joined the force in 2019 and is survived by his wife and two children. The ministry expressed its condolences to his family.
The timing of the attack, occurring on the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has prompted immediate scrutiny. A report from Swedish publication Expressen notes the incident took place on the anniversary of the invasion. While authorities have not yet established a motive, the coincidence is being closely examined.
This incident follows a similar attack in Moscow in December 2025, where two police officers were killed during an encounter with a suspicious individual near the site of a recent assassination of a Russian general. That attack, as reported by The Guardian, occurred in the southern part of the city and contributed to a pattern of attacks targeting Russian law enforcement and military officials.
The broader context includes a series of assassinations and attacks targeting Russian military officials within Russia itself, occurring amidst Moscow’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Earlier this month, a top Russian military intelligence officer was wounded in a shooting that Moscow attributed to Kyiv. These events suggest a heightened level of instability and potential for further attacks within Russia.
The Savyolovsky Railway Station is one of the Russian capital’s main rail hubs, making the location of the attack particularly significant. Authorities have opened a criminal case against the perpetrator for the attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and charges relating to the explosive device. Law enforcement agencies are working to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The two injured officers have been hospitalized with various injuries. Details regarding the type of explosive device used have not yet been released. The investigation is ongoing, and officials are currently focused on gathering evidence and identifying any potential connections to other incidents.
News of the Moscow attack comes amid reports of similar incidents in Ukraine. According to a report from AOL.com, one person was killed and dozens injured in what Ukrainian President Zelenskyy described as a “terrorist attack” in Ukraine. A police officer was killed in Lviv, Ukraine, on Sunday night, and seven police officers were injured in Mykolajiv on Monday evening. These parallel events raise concerns about a potential escalation of violence in the region.
The attack in Moscow is likely to further heighten security concerns within Russia, particularly in major cities and transportation hubs. Authorities are expected to increase security measures and conduct thorough investigations to prevent future incidents. The incident also raises questions about the effectiveness of current security protocols and the potential for further attacks targeting law enforcement and government officials.
The investigation will likely focus on identifying the attacker’s motives and any potential links to extremist groups or foreign actors. The timing of the attack, coinciding with the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, suggests a possible connection to the ongoing conflict. However, authorities have not yet ruled out other possibilities.
The incident is also likely to have political ramifications, both domestically, and internationally. The Russian government may use the attack to justify further crackdowns on dissent and to strengthen its security apparatus. Internationally, the attack could further strain relations between Russia and other countries, particularly those that have condemned the invasion of Ukraine.
As the investigation unfolds, more details are expected to emerge regarding the attacker’s identity, motives, and potential connections. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing security challenges facing Russia and the broader region, and the potential for violence to escalate in the context of geopolitical tensions.