Russian general killed by car bomb near Moscow

Balashikha, Russia: An explosive device ripped through a parked car near Moscow on Friday killing a senior Russian general, investigators said, in an attack that resembled previous killings claimed by Ukraine.

Authorities named the victim as General-lieutenant Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the main operational directorate of the military’s General Staff, which is in charge of army operations.

Kyiv has not commented on the attack, which bore the hallmarks of previous assassinations of military figures and high-profile backers of the Kremlin’s offensive over the last three years.

“Our military figure was killed as a result of a terrorist attack,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. Investigators have not confirmed this charge.

The leader of Russia’s Caucasus region of North Osetia, Sergei Menyailo, told RIA Novosti that Ukraine could be behind the killing.