Pro-Russia paramilitary leader killed in Moscow blast

Armen Sargsyan, the leader of a pro-Russian paramilitary group known as the 'Arbat' battalion, has died following a serious explosion in Moscow on Monday morning. Reports from Russian media indicate that Sargsyan was gravely injured in the blast that occurred in the entrance hall of a residential building located in north-west Moscow, approximately 12 kilometers from the Kremlin. After the explosion, he was quickly transported to a hospital by helicopter and placed in intensive care. Unfortunately, despite the medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. The explosion also injured several others, including one of Sargsyan's bodyguards, and some sources have reported that another individual lost their life in the incident. In December, the Ukrainian security service, known as SBU, identified Sargsyan as a suspect in recruiting prisoners to fight in Ukraine. They noted that he had been on an international wanted list since May 2014 due to his involvement in murders that took place in the center of Kyiv. The SBU further stated that Sargsyan was part of the inner circle of Viktor Yanukovych, a former Ukrainian president who is currently a fugitive. According to TASS, a Russian news agency, law enforcement officials have stated that the assassination attempt on Sargsyan was meticulously planned and ordered. Investigators are now working to identify those responsible for orchestrating the crime. Images circulating on social media depict a scene of devastation, with rubble and debris scattered across the entrance hall, where windows and doorways have been blown out. Olga Voronova, a 36-year-old mother of three who lives in a nearby building, expressed her fear and confusion regarding the explosion, stating, 'We have quite serious security guards; they ask every car at the checkpoints, we order passes for guests, even for family members. ' Sargsyan was originally from Horlivka, a city in Ukraine's Donetsk region that has been under Russian occupation since 2014. The mayor of Horlivka, Ivan Prikhodko, confirmed Sargsyan's death in a Telegram post, highlighting that Sargsyan's most notable achievement was the establishment and leadership of a special forces battalion. Prikhodko also mentioned that Sargsyan served as the head of the Boxing Federation of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. The 'Arbat' battalion has been known to operate in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces are still active following a surprise offensive launched in August. There have been multiple attacks targeting high-profile supporters of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, both in Moscow and in occupied territories. Notably, in late 2024, a senior Russian naval officer and a prison chief were killed in car bomb explosions in Russian-occupied Ukraine. Additionally, a high-ranking general in the Russian armed forces and his assistant were also reported to have died, according to a Ukrainian source.