The heart of Moscow was rattled this week by a deadly explosion that claimed three lives, including two young police officers. In a significant development, an official from Ukraine’s military intelligence confirmed to The Associated Press that the attack was part of an operation by their agency.
This incident follows just days after a high-ranking Russian general was killed by a car bomb in the very same area of the capital. While Russia is investigating the general’s death and hasn’t publicly assigned blame for the latest blast, these events fit a disturbing pattern. Since Moscow’s invasion nearly four years ago, Russian authorities have frequently accused Kyiv of being behind assassinations of military and public figures on Russian soil, with Ukraine occasionally claiming responsibility.
On Wednesday, two traffic police officers, Lt. Ilya Klimanov (24) and Lt. Maxim Gorbunov (25), tragically lost their lives along with another bystander when a device detonated as they approached a suspicious individual. Lt. Gorbunov leaves behind a wife and 9-month-old daughter.
Facing a formidable, larger Russian military, Ukraine has increasingly turned to unconventional and unexpected tactics to try and alter the course of the conflict. This strategy has included surprise incursions into Russian territory, widespread drone attacks targeting bomber bases, and what appear to be sophisticated targeted killings of senior Russian military officials. Previous high-profile incidents include the deaths of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov by a scooter bomb and Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik by a car bomb, with Ukraine’s security service taking credit for some.
The escalating nature of these clandestine operations inside Russia highlights the intensifying and expanding scope of the ongoing conflict, pushing beyond traditional battlefronts.
