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Shkruar nga Pamfleti
An explosion at a closed military settlement in Russia's Far East has killed an officer, in an incident that, according to foreign media, targeted a senior commander linked to operations in Ukraine.
According to media reports, the explosion occurred at around 9:00 a.m. Tuesday in a residential building in Knyaze-Volkonskoye-1, where Major General Azatbek Omurbekov lives. He led Russian troops during the invasion of Bucha in Ukraine and has been sanctioned by the European Union for his role in the killing of civilians.
Two sources said the attacker had placed a bomb in a mailbox between the first and second floors of the building, as well as installed a camera to monitor the target. However, the explosion hit the wrong entrance: one of Omurbekov's subordinates was killed, while the general himself was not injured.
An anonymous Telegram channel, VChK-OGPU, which is believed to be linked to Russian security services, reported that the target was Omurbekov and that the victim was a lieutenant colonel with the surname Kuzmenko.
Russian and Ukrainian authorities have not officially commented on the incident. Since the start of the war, Ukrainian intelligence services have targeted dozens of Russian military officials and figures deployed by Moscow in the occupied territories, accusing them of involvement in war crimes.
The area where the explosion occurred is a small military settlement near the city of Khabarovsk, close to the border with China. The area operates as a garrison and has limited access, with controlled entrances and special permits for non-residents.
Sources said that after the explosion, the residential building used mainly by military personnel was isolated and the area was patrolled by armed troops.
Omurbekov is considered a high-value target for Ukrainian intelligence. He led the 64th Motorized Infantry Brigade during the 2022 takeover of Bucha and has been accused by Western authorities of directly commanding troops involved in the killing of civilians.
In an interview with Russian media outlet iStories, a former subordinate claimed that the commander had repeatedly ordered attacks on civilians, including on vehicles carrying unarmed people. Russia has consistently denied these allegations.
However, President Vladimir Putin awarded Omurbekov the title of “Hero of the Russian Federation,” the highest state honor, in a private ceremony. He was later transferred to a military training center in Knyaze-Volkonskoye-1.
Security experts see the incident as a possible failure of Russian services. Analyst Andrei Soldatov assessed that such an attack on a protected military area shows weaknesses in security measures.
"Given the vast resources that military counterintelligence has for protecting personnel, this is a security failure," he said, noting that protecting officers has traditionally been a priority for the Russian FSB service.
Një nga një të gjithë kriminelët rusë.