High-Ranking Russian General Assassinated in Moscow

Latest Developments

Car Explosion Kills Sarvarov: The head of the Russian General Staff’s Directorate for Operational Training, Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, was killed in Moscow on December 22, Russian authorities said. Sarvarov reportedly died as a result of injuries sustained when a bomb placed under his car exploded. Russian investigators stated that they were considering the possibility that the assassination was organized by the Ukrainian special services, which, thus far, have not claimed responsibility for the operation. Sarvarov oversaw combat training for Russian forces in Ukraine and had participated in wars in Chechnya and in Russia’s military operations in Syria between 2015 and 2016.
Third General Assassinated in Past Year: Sarvarov is the third senior Russian general killed within a year. Last December, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, chief of Russia’s nuclear, biological, and chemical defense forces, was killed when an explosive device attached to a scooter exploded as he was leaving his Moscow residence. In April, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate, was killed by a bomb planted in his car.
Peace Negotiations Stuck: No breakthroughs were reported from the latest series of negotiations to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, held in Miami. Over the weekend, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held separate meetings with Ukrainian and European officials and a Russian envoy. Witkoff described both sets of meetings as “productive and constructive.” He said the U.S.-Ukraine discussions focused on refining a 20-point peace plan, U.S. and multilateral security guarantees for Ukraine, and Ukrainian reconstruction. “Particular attention was given to discussing timelines and the sequencing of next steps,” Witkoff said. But Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said Moscow remains opposed to key elements of the evolving peace plan.

FDD Expert Response

“No ceasefire is going to emerge until Russian President Vladimir Putin feels pressure. Putin said in his annual speech that his goals in Ukraine have not changed. In this, I am willing to believe him. If Trump wants peace in Ukraine in 2026, he needs to start seizing, or at least sanctioning, shadow fleet ships with Russian oil onboard.” — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation

“Putin is telling Washington that he has no intention of abandoning his maximalist demands, which extend beyond Donetsk, a region Russia has failed to conquer. Ukraine isn’t going to capitulate to demands that Russia cannot impose through force of arms. Unless Washington can convince Putin to bring his demands down to reality, peace will likely remain elusive.” — John Hardie, Russia Program Deputy Director

“Ukraine has demonstrated that no Russian general is safe. Russian generals who facilitate war crimes should think twice before starting their cars. Ukraine’s intelligence services continue to show that they can defend their country by targeting the highest ranks of Russia’s leadership.” — Peter Doran, Adjunct Senior Fellow