Armen Sargsyan, the leader of the pro-Russian “Arbat” battalion, died from injuries sustained in a blast in Moscow on Monday morning, Russian media reported. The explosion occurred in the entrance hall of a residential building in north-west Moscow, located about 12 kilometers from the Kremlin.
Sargsyan was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition and later succumbed to his wounds. A bodyguard was also reportedly severely injured, and some sources claim one other individual died in the attack.
The blast occurred in a heavily secured area, prompting confusion among locals about how such an explosion could take place. A neighbor, Olga Voronova, expressed her fears over the incident, pointing out the strict security measures in the building.
Sargsyan, a controversial figure, was accused by Ukraine’s security service (SBU) of recruiting prisoners to fight in the ongoing conflict. The SBU had placed him on an international wanted list due to his alleged involvement in several murders and criminal activities, including those in Kyiv.
The SBU had previously named Sargsyan as part of the close-knit group surrounding former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. The assassination attempt on Sargsyan is being investigated, with authorities indicating it was likely planned and ordered by a higher power.
Images from the scene show a damaged building with blown-out windows and rubble strewn across the hall. Investigations are underway to identify the perpetrators of the blast, and this event adds to the rising number of attacks targeting pro-Russian figures involved in the Ukraine conflict.