Russian General Killed Ahead of Ceasefire Talks

Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, was killed by a car bomb in Balashikha, near Moscow, on April 25. The attack used a remotely detonated improvised explosive device packed with shrapnel, and no group has claimed responsibility, though Russian officials and war bloggers have blamed Ukraine, citing similarities to previous assassinations. The killing took place just hours before US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, met President Vladimir Putin for ceasefire talks, casting a shadow over the negotiations. Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation, while Kyiv has declined to comment. The assassination is part of a series of targeted killings of high-ranking Russian officials amid continued hostilities and failed ceasefire efforts between Russia and Ukraine. The incident highlights the escalation of covert operations and the fragility of ongoing peace efforts.