This is the third assassination of a Russian army general committed in the Moscow region since 2022.
— Ukraine is methodically eliminating Russian generals and others. The operational command of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is responsible for the combat readiness of the Russian army, so it was one of the main goals, says military blogger Igal Levin.
The attack exposed the incompetence of Putin's people. Experts indicate that the general's murder is a failure of the Russian secret services and show the consequences of Russian negligence.
This opinion was expressed in an interview with Novaya Gazeta by the administrator of the “Operacyjny Przegląd” channel on the Telegram platform. —The police could have detained him [zamachowca] only accidentally, during a patrol or document inspection – adds the analyst.
Novaya Gazeta's interlocutor notes that a few days before the murder of General Sarvarov, there were rumors about strengthening the protection of key generals of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation – due to fears of Ukrainian attacks during the New Year holidays.
On Monday morning, December 22, a KIA Sorento — a mid-price SUV — exploded in Moscow's modest Orekhovo-Borisovo district. At the wheel was the head of the Operational Training Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, General Fanil Sarvarov. Available information shows that the explosion occurred in the front of the car.
Russian media write about a magnetic mine with a power of 300 g of TNT. Cars parked nearby were also damaged. No evidence was found at the crime scene. The explosion was seen by Sarwarov's wife. Rescuers quickly arrived at the scene of the attack and pulled the general out of the destroyed car. The injured anti-church was immediately taken to hospital, but he did not survive.
General Fanil Sarwarov's carInvestigative Committee of Moscow via AP, Associated Press/East News / East News
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Sarwarov practically never appeared in the media. At the time of publication, journalists had not been able to find his social media accounts or information about his relatives. The deceased probably led a rather modest lifestyle, especially for a Moscow general from the general staff. In 2019, he declared an annual income of PLN 3,200,000. rubles (approx. PLN 150,000), as well as a property with an area of 121 sq m.
The deceased was 56 years old. He came from the Perm Oblast. He graduated from several military universities: the Kazan Higher Tank Command School, the Military Academy of Armored Forces and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Between 1992 and 2003, with breaks, he spent six years, first in the Ossetian-Ingush conflict zone, and also in Chechnya. In 2015–2016 he fought in Syria and was awarded several orders and medals.
Sarvarov was listed in the Ukrainian “Mirotvortsy” database, where people connected with the invasion are sent. His passport number and e-mail address were provided there.
“The investigation is examining various versions of the murder. One of them is the version related to the organization of the crime by the Ukrainian special services. The course of the investigation is controlled by the central apparatus of the ministry,” we read in a statement from the Investigative Committee of Russia.
The criminal case was initiated on the basis of articles relating to the sale of weapons and murder in a manner posing a threat to the general public. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin was “immediately” informed about Sarvarov's murder.
In addition to many other acts of sabotage and assassinations committed by Ukrainian soldiers behind Russian lines, Sarvarov is the third general murdered in the Moscow region. On April 25, 2025, the deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate, Yaroslav Moskalik, was murdered in Bałashidze near Moscow.
On December 17, 2024, Igor Kirillov, the head of the Radiological, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, was murdered in Moscow. Kirillov and Moskalik, like Sarvarov, were generals.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
