A homemade bomb, delivered as a gift to a restaurant in Moscow, exploded during a birthday celebration for Alexander Chayko, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, killing five people and injuring 19. Chayko, a senior Russian military official, survived the blast, but his son-in-law was killed and his daughter was seriously wounded.
The explosion occurred at the Balzi Rossi eatery in Kudrinskaya Square, near the Kremlin, around 8:10 p.m. local time. The venue was hosting a party for Chayko's 55th birthday. Reports indicate the bomb was disguised as a gift and contained metal balls, with an explosive force equivalent to 1 kilogram of TNT.
Among the deceased was Daniil Peredriy, 27, a former professional ice hockey player, who was rushed to the hospital following the blast. His wife, Maria Peredriy, 25, identified as Chayko's daughter, sustained an 'open traumatic brain injury.' The bomber was reportedly killed after being stopped near the restaurant's outdoor terrace.
The party was attended by Moscow politicians, high-ranking military and intelligence officers, and top bureaucrats. Images posted on Russian social media showed emergency services at the scene, and traffic was temporarily blocked in the area. Police confirmed an explosion caused three deaths and 15 injuries of varying degrees of seriousness.
Chayko has been a prominent figure in Russia's military operations. In June, Ukraine branded him a 'war criminal.' He is credited with commanding Russian forces during the initial invasion of Ukraine, including actions in Bucha, where a significant number of civilian deaths occurred. He also commanded Russian forces at the Engels-2 airbase, which was attacked by Ukrainian forces in a separate incident.
In a separate report, a different Russian Major-General, Dmitry Mikhailov, was reportedly killed by an FPV drone in the war zone. Mikhailov, 39, had been linked by Ukrainian investigators to war crimes during the occupation of the Izium area. However, there has been no official confirmation of his death.