A high-ranking military officer in the Russian Ministry of Defense, responsible for the supply of heavy ammunition to the Russian army, was killed in a car bomb explosion on the outskirts of Moscow on Tuesday morning, the Kyiv Post reports.
The explosion took place on Tuesday, June 9, around 5:30 am local time, in the town of Balașiha, about 10 kilometers east of the Russian capital.
Russian authorities have confirmed that a man was killed in the explosion, but have not officially released the identity of the victim.
The explosion occurred while the car, a BMW X3, was moving near an apartment building in the Aviatorov district of Balasih, Russia's Investigative Committee announced. Russian investigators announced the opening of a criminal case, but did not specify what the charges were.
Independent Russian publication The Insider identified the victim of the attack as Damir Davidov, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Main Directorate of Missiles and Artillery (GRAU), responsible for the supply of ammunition for missiles and artillery.
Earlier, some Russian Telegram channels claimed that the target could have been Colonel General Alexander Maksimtsev, a senior officer in the Aerospace Forces.
The Russian Telegram channel “112” reported that the bomb placed under the driver's seat had a power equivalent to 300-400 grams of TNT.
Aviatorov Quarter is a residential area originally built for Russian military personnel and their families. According to the Astra Telegram channel, apartments in this area are allocated, through the Ministry of Defense of Russia, to military pensioners, war veterans and relatives of military personnel.
Who is Damir Davidov?
Damir Davidov was born on February 4, 1969. He grew up in the city of Penza-19 (now Zarechny), which is connected to the defense industry. His father worked at an arms manufacturing enterprise, RBC Ukraine notes.
Damir Davidov dedicated his professional career to the military field. According to available data, he participated in the development of rocket engines and artillery ammunition.
Until 2009, he headed the Central Experimental Technical Bureau of one of the most important arsenals. Subsequently, he continued his professional ascent, reaching, by 2017, a senior position in the General Directorate for Missiles and Artillery of the Ministry of Defense of Russia.
