A suspect detonated an explosive device near a patrol vehicle in central Moscow early Tuesday, killing the suspect and a police officer, officials said.
The attack occurred at 12:05 a.m. local time near Savyolovsky Railway Station in the Russian capital, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement on Telegram.
Two other police officers were injured at the blast and hospitalized, according to the ministry. Their condition was unknown.
The deceased officer has been identified as 34-year-old Denis Bratushchenko, a senior inspector of a traffic police battalion of the Internal Affairs Directorate.
Officials initially said the suspect had fled the scene, but later said an inspection of the square and a review of surveillance footage confirmed the perpetrator had died in the explosion.
According to officials, the suspected attacker approached the patrol car and detonated what they called “an unidentified device.”
The Investigative Committee of Russia for the city of Moscow has opened a criminal case into the event on suspicion of an attempt on the life of a law enforcement officer and illegal handling or possession of explosive substances or devices.
“At present, a set of operational search measures is being carried out to establish all the circumstances,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs said in an update.
Bratushchenko is survived by his wife and two children, ministry officials said.
The explosion comes a day after the fourth anniversary of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
