Russian authorities say they have charged a “Ukrainian special services agent” with terrorism, after he was detained in connection with a car explosion that killed Russian General Yaroslav Moskalik on Friday.
The suspect – Ignat Kuzin – allegedly purchased the car that exploded in Balashikha, less than 20 miles east of Moscow, according to TASS citing Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Russian Investigation Committee. The suspect’s nationality is unclear; according to the FSB, he has a residence permit in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) allegedly recruited Kuzin, who “confessed to the murder” of Russian General Yaroslav Moskalik, TASS reported. He was promised $18,000 for the attack, which had been planned since September 2024, added TASS.
The FSB had accused him of planting an explosive device in the car, but said that it was detonated from Ukraine. Video published by TASS on Saturday appeared to show charred electronics and parts of the car. Russia’s Investigative Committee previously said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device packed with shrapnel.
The suspect appeared in court on Sunday as a judge remanded him in custody for “one month and 30 days.” Footage from the court released by the Russian Investigative Committee showed Kuzin standing inside a defendant’s cage, wearing a black hoodie and face mask, when the judge issued the order. He was sent to a pretrial detention center in the capital.
Russian General Moskalik was deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. The influential Russian military blog Rybar said Moskalik was not in the Volkswagen car when it exploded but was close to it after walking out of a nearby building. CNN cannot independently verify this report.
Photos released by Russian authorities appear to show the suspect driving a dark green Volkswagen with license plates that match those purportedly found at the site of the blast.
TASS video also showed the man being put into a van, and included footage of him apparently in custody describing his alleged recruitment by Ukraine’s special services. It’s unclear if he was under duress during the confession.
No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion. CNN has reached out to the SBU and the country’s Foreign Ministry for comment on the case.