Car explosion in Moscow district injures former Ukrainian official Serhiy Zavorotnyi

Serhiy Zavorotnyi, the 72-year-old former spokesperson for former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, was injured in a car explosion in Moscow's Chertanovo district on November 13, 2026. The blast occurred approximately five minutes from the residence of Zavorotnyi located at 2 Kirovogradskaya Street. The victim was thrown from the vehicle and is currently in critical condition or a coma while undergoing surgery.

Details of the explosion

The explosion involved a 2020 Toyota Fortuner SUV belonging to Zavorotnyi. Preliminary reports suggest the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device, possibly a magnetic mine, with an explosive yield equivalent to approximately 300 grams of TNT. While the exact cause and perpetrator of the explosion are under investigation, Russian authorities are investigating the incident as an attempted murder.

Zavorotnyi has held several prominent roles, including serving as a journalist for Komsomolskaya Pravda in Latin America and as the head of the press service for the Rodina faction in the State Duma. Furthermore, a U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee report cited by Important Stories identified Zavorotnyi as an officer of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) within military unit No. 33949.

Allegations of involvement

Mykola Azarov, who served as the Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2010 to 2014, stated that he believes Ukrainian intelligence services and agents are responsible for the attack. Azarov claimed the motive for the attack was the journalistic activities of Zavorotnyi, which aimed at exposing the Kyiv regime.

The incident follows a separate explosion that occurred on November 12, 2026, in St. Petersburg. That previous blast killed a Russian Air Force colonel, identified by The Moscow Times as Andrei Khodykin, who served as the deputy commander of Russia's 6th Air and Air Defense Forces Army.

Context of the attack

The targeting of Zavorotnyi comes amid heightened tensions involving former Ukrainian officials living in Russia. Mykola Azarov, a leader of the Party of Regions, fled to Russia following the 2014 protests in Ukraine. The investigation into the Chertanovo district blast continues as authorities work to determine the exact nature of the improvised explosive device used in the attack.

Glossary

• Rodina faction — The Rodina faction is a group within the State Duma. It was headed by Dmitry Rogozin.
• State Duma — The State Duma is one of the two chambers of the Federal Assembly. It is the more powerful chamber.
• U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee — The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee is a legislative body that issues reports. Its members have traveled to Ukraine and Poland to hear from officials regarding Russian operations.
• Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) — The Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) is the civilian foreign intelligence agency of Russia. It succeeded the First Chief Directorate of the KGB in December 1991.