Sarkisyan, pro-Russian separatist, blown up in Moscow: Details

Explosion in residential complex in Moscow

The explosion in the Alye Parusa residential complex, located in the northwest of Moscow, occurred at 09:45 a.m. local time (08:45 Kyiv time). Russian propaganda suggests that, likely, a grenade or a homemade explosive device based on a grenade exploded at the scene. The air aviation and cynologists arrived at the site.

Russian propaganda reported that as a result of the explosion, a resident of this residential complex, who had entered the building with his security guards, was killed. Five other people were injured. Initially, it was not reported who exactly became the victim of the explosion. However, the building concierge stated that "she had seen this person on television before."

Later, it became known that the victim of the explosion might have been Armen Sarkisyan, a criminal authority from the era of the fugitive Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych. There is conflicting information in different Russian propaganda media on whether Sarkisyan was killed. Some reports say he died from the explosion, while others claim he was allegedly hospitalized in serious condition, and his bodyguard was killed.

However, after 12:20, information began to appear in Russian Telegram channels that Sarkisyan died in intensive care without regaining consciousness.

The Moscow Investigative Committee released a video from the scene of the explosion. The footage shows shattered glass and a destroyed ceiling at the residential building's entrance. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under the article for "murder and attempted murder of two or more persons."

Among the explosion's victims is also Oleg Kasperovych, a former deputy commander of a special forces unit of the Crimean Territorial Command of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. He betrayed Ukraine in 2014 and sided with Russia during the occupation of Crimea.

Who is Armen Sarkisyan

Armen Sarkisyan (known as Armen Horlivskyi), originally from Horlivka (a city in the Donetsk region that is currently under Russian occupation), was part of the close circle of fugitive president Viktor Yanukovych and has been on the international wanted list since May 2014 for organizing murders in the center of Kyiv.

He is known for supplying "titushky" (burly guys dressed in sports gear who act as agents provocateurs - ed.) to the Maidan in Kyiv during the Revolution of Dignity. The criminal was close to former regionalist Yuriy Ivanyushchenko, serving as his right hand. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the murder of journalist Vyacheslav Veremiy was carried out by Sarkisyan's group.

Working closely with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Sarkisyan received a new task from the Russians after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine - to create a new armed formation to fight against Ukraine. He headed a combat group called the Separate Special Purpose Battalion ArBAT, consisting mainly of recidivists convicted of murder, robbery, and other serious crimes.

For recruiting prisoners, the Russian intelligence service appointed Sarkisyan as the so-called "watcher" for prisons in the temporarily occupied part of the Donetsk region. Initially, ArBAT fought on the Toretsk front, and later the group was transferred to the Kursk region to storm Ukrainian positions.

Sarkisyan also used controlled companies to purchase thermal imagers, fuel, and construction materials for the Russians on the front lines. He is also the so-called vice-president of the boxing federation of "DPR" (Donetsk People's Republic - ed.) and a shadow overseer of all business in occupied Horlivka.

According to the Russian Telegram channel Mozhem obyasnit, Sarkisyan has lived permanently in Moscow in recent years.

In December of last year, based on collected evidence, the Security Service of Ukraine announced charges against Sarkisyan for several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 7, Article 111-1 (voluntary participation in illegal armed or paramilitary formations or assisting with such formations in conducting combat actions against the Armed Forces of Ukraine);

• Part 3, Article 28, Part 1, Article 111-2 (aiding the aggressor state, committed by an organized group of individuals with prior conspiracy).

Collaborators and Russian officers often die from explosions in Russia. A previous similar case was the elimination in Moscow of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who ordered the use of chemical weapons against the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The explosion occurred early in the morning on December 17, 2024, near the building where the Russian general lived. It was determined that the explosive device was placed in a scooter standing near the entrance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on Kirillov's murder, stating that it was a "terrorist attack" and accused the Ukrainian side of being responsible for it. Officially, Ukraine did not take responsibility for the act. However, sources from RBC-Ukraine reported that the operation was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine.

Sources: Russian media Interfax, Kommersant, TASS, Meduza, information from the Security Service of Ukraine, and other open sources.