Russian general killed in car explosion near Moscow

A car explosion on Friday killed Russian general Yaroslav Moskalik. A Volkswagen Golf vehicle exploded in Balashikha, about 20 miles east of Moscow, local news reported. Moskalik was the deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. He previously represented the Russian Defense Ministry in negotiations, according to Russian state news.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said a homemade incendiary device packed with shrapnel caused the explosion. The device had the explosive power of more than 300 grams of TNT, Russian state news reported.

What else was happening in Moscow on Friday? The blast occurred just before U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The two spoke in the Kremlin for three hours, Putin aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian state news. Ushakov said the meeting was constructive and useful.

Dig deeper: Read my previous report on the reported divisive contents of the final U.S. peace proposal sent to Ukraine and Russia.