Bombing at Exclusive Moscow Restaurant Targets High Ranking Military Official

A homemade bomb exploded Saturday evening at Balzi Rossi, an exclusive Italian restaurant in central Moscow, killing between three and five people and injuring 21 others. The blast occurred around 20:00 local time at a location situated in one of the city's Stalinist skyscrapers. According to the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee, an unidentified woman attempted to carry the device into the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard. The bomb, which was contained in a box and filled with metal pellets, detonated at the entrance. The woman, the security guard, and one customer were killed in the explosion. Some reports indicate that the woman may have been an unwitting courier who did not know the box contained a bomb.

Multiple sources indicate the target of the attack was likely Alexander Chaiko, the commander of Russia's Aerospace Forces. The restaurant was closed to the public for a private event, which reports suggest was a celebration for Chaiko's 55th birthday. Observers noted a high presence of security and vehicles with black license plates, which are typically used by the Russian military. Chaiko previously served as the head of the Eastern Military District and is on the European Union's sanctions list.

Official reactions varied. The Mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, described the event as a brutal act of terrorism. While state television initially suggested a gas cylinder leak might have caused the blast, the Russian embassy in Italy explicitly blamed Ukrainian terrorists for the attack. Ukraine has not issued an official statement. This incident follows a pattern of bombings targeting Russian military leadership, including previous attacks on General Damir Davidov and other high ranking officials.