A Russian soldier was killed on Thursday when a car exploded in St. Petersburg, Russian and Ukrainian media reported, according to Nettavisen.
The blast shattered windows on a nearby bus. Russian authorities confirmed they are investigating the explosion as a murder.
No one other than the driver sustained injuries in the attack. Local outlets reported that the victim served as an officer in Russia’s air force.
Regional outlet Fontanka reported that investigators suspect a 31-year-old Russian man carried out the bombing. The publication also published a photograph of the suspect.
Authorities stated the suspect fled Russia before the device detonated. He is believed to be in Moldova, a country lacking an extradition treaty with Russia.
Investigators suspect the man smuggled the explosive into Russia from the Baltics using a hot-air balloon. An accomplice allegedly retrieved the package near the border and delivered it to the suspect.
The suspect reportedly attached the explosive to the underside of the officer’s car before heading to the St. Petersburg airport. Russian authorities suspect Ukrainian involvement in the blast, as Ukraine frequently uses hot-air balloons in the conflict, according to Fontanka.
The exact identity of the targeted officer remains unconfirmed by official Russian sources. Data compiled by investigative outlet Agentstvo and reported by Meduza indicates two air force officers reside near the blast site.
A similar car bombing in September killed another Russian officer in the same St. Petersburg neighborhood. Both targeted officers belonged to the same regiment within Russia’s air force.
A Russian military blogger with close ties to the air force identified the dead officer as a former regimental comrade.
“En utmerket offiser, en profesjonell, og det tyngste og mest forferdelige er at han var et fantastisk menneske,” the military blogger wrote.
Meduza said that both names circulating as possible victims participated in the invasion of Ukraine.
Russian investigators reported that the 31-year-old suspect fled to Moldova prior to the explosion. Moldova currently maintains no extradition treaty with Russia.
Fontanka reported that authorities suspect the explosive device crossed the border from the Baltics via a hot-air balloon. An accomplice allegedly picked up the package near the border and handed it to the primary suspect.
No bystanders or passengers were injured in the blast. Nettavisen confirmed that only the driver of the vehicle died, though windows on a nearby bus shattered from the force of the detonation.
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