MOSCOW — An explosion in a high-end residential building in Moscow on Monday morning left one person dead and four others critically injured, according to Russian news agencies citing emergency officials.
The injured victims, whose conditions were described as severe, were taken to the hospital, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported, quoting Moscow health authorities.
Footage released by Russia’s Investigative Committee showed extensive damage, with shattered glass doors and torn-up suspended ceilings in the building’s hallway.
The Committee has launched a criminal investigation into the incident, classifying it as a case of murder with public endangerment and attempted murder of multiple individuals.
According to Russian state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti, which cited law enforcement sources, one of the wounded was identified as Armen Sarkisyan. He is the founder of a volunteer battalion engaged in combat in Ukraine and also serves as the head of a boxing federation in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region.
RIA Novosti noted that Sarkisyan is on Ukraine’s wanted list but did not specify the charges against him.
Tass further reported that Sarkisyan’s bodyguard was killed in the explosion.
