Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov , a prominent figure in the Russian General Staff, was assassinated Monday morning in southern Moscow. An explosive device, placed under his vehicle, detonated while the 56-year-old officer was inside.

Who was Fanil Sarvarov?

As head of the operational training department, Sarvarov was a seasoned veteran of the Russian army. His military career included:

1. The Chechen wars (1990s and 2000s).
2. The intervention in Syria (2015-2016).
3. The invasion of Ukraine since February 2022.

The context: a series of targeted killings

This assassination is part of a growing list of high-ranking officials and pro-war figures targeted on Russian soil:

1. December 2024: General Igor Kirillov killed by a booby-trapped scooter (claimed by the SBU).
2. April 2024: General Yaroslav Moskalik killed in a similar car explosion.
3. Previously: The deaths of journalist Daria Douguina (2022) and blogger Maxime Fomine (2023) had already left their mark.

The Russian Investigative Committee has opened an investigation for "murder" and "explosives trafficking," favoring the theory of an operation by Ukrainian special services. Kyiv has not yet commented.

A paradoxical diplomatic climate

This event comes as intense discussions are taking place in the United States to try to end the conflict.

Actor	Current position
United States / Ukraine	Discussions were deemed "productive and constructive" regarding the American peace plan.
Vladimir Putin	He asserts that "the ball is in Kyiv's court" after accepting certain compromises.
US Intelligence	Conflicting debates on Russia's actual capacity to continue its expansion in Europe.

Climbing on the ground

Despite these diplomatic signals, the violence continues unabated. On Monday, Russia again targeted Odessa 's energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages. President Zelensky denounced Moscow's attempt to "sow chaos" in the middle of winter, in retaliation for recent Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil interests.