A Russian military official has been killed in a car explosion in St. Petersburg, investigators said Thursday, with local media identifying his rank as lieutenant colonel.
The blast occurred around 10 a.m. local time near a supermarket in the Shushary neighborhood, the news outlet Fontanka reported.
Investigators later confirmed the military official’s death but described the incident only as a “vehicle fire,” not an explosion. They also said his wife, who was also inside the car at the time of the blast, was receiving medical treatment.
The Investigation Committee, Russia’s top investigative body, said it launched a criminal probe into the incident.
Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out several assassinations of military officers since the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian sources have claimed responsibility for some of the attacks while denying involvement in others.
There was no immediate comment from officials in Kyiv in response to Thursday’s reported blast.
A Russian military officer was last killed in a bomb attack in annexed Crimea earlier this month. Police arrested a woman suspected of assassinating him on behalf of Ukraine.
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