Armen Sargsyan, leader of the "Arbat" battalion, died after an explosion in north-west Moscow injured multiple people on Monday.
**Paramilitary Leader Armen Sargsyan Dies Following Moscow Explosion**
**Paramilitary Leader Armen Sargsyan Dies Following Moscow Explosion**
A pro-Russian paramilitary figure succumbed to injuries from a blast in the capital.
In a shocking incident that underscores the volatile security situation in Moscow, Armen Sargsyan, the commander of the pro-Russian "Arbat" battalion, has died following an explosion in the entrance of a residential building. Reports indicate that the blast occurred on Monday morning in a location about 12 kilometers from the Kremlin, leading to severe injuries for Sargsyan and at least one bodyguard.
Emergency services evacuated Sargsyan by helicopter to a nearby hospital where he was placed in intensive care but eventually succumbed to his injuries. Initial reports from reliable Telegram channels suggested that the explosion also inflicted serious injuries on others, with some claiming that at least one additional casualty resulted from the blast.
Sargsyan had a controversial background, with the Ukrainian security service, SBU, previously naming him a suspect in the recruitment of prisoners to join the fight in Ukraine. He had been wanted internationally since May 2014 for multiple murders tied to his past activities in Kyiv. Investigators are now looking into the possibility that the attack on Sargsyan was a meticulously planned assassination.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and destruction, including rubble and broken windows littering the entrance hall of the building. Olga Voronova, a local resident, expressed her disbelief at the incident, emphasizing the stringent security measures in her area.
Born in Gorlovka, a city situated in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine from 2014, Sargsyan was recognized for establishing and leading a special forces battalion. He also headed the Boxing Federation of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic.
The "Arbat" battalion has been linked with activities in the Kursk region amid ongoing military tensions. This incident adds to a growing list of violent attacks against prominent supporters of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, hinting at deepening crises within both the occupied regions and in Russian territory itself.
Emergency services evacuated Sargsyan by helicopter to a nearby hospital where he was placed in intensive care but eventually succumbed to his injuries. Initial reports from reliable Telegram channels suggested that the explosion also inflicted serious injuries on others, with some claiming that at least one additional casualty resulted from the blast.
Sargsyan had a controversial background, with the Ukrainian security service, SBU, previously naming him a suspect in the recruitment of prisoners to join the fight in Ukraine. He had been wanted internationally since May 2014 for multiple murders tied to his past activities in Kyiv. Investigators are now looking into the possibility that the attack on Sargsyan was a meticulously planned assassination.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and destruction, including rubble and broken windows littering the entrance hall of the building. Olga Voronova, a local resident, expressed her disbelief at the incident, emphasizing the stringent security measures in her area.
Born in Gorlovka, a city situated in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine from 2014, Sargsyan was recognized for establishing and leading a special forces battalion. He also headed the Boxing Federation of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic.
The "Arbat" battalion has been linked with activities in the Kursk region amid ongoing military tensions. This incident adds to a growing list of violent attacks against prominent supporters of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, hinting at deepening crises within both the occupied regions and in Russian territory itself.
