Three killed, 21 injured in Moscow restaurant bombing, reports suggest military gathering may have been target
Three people were killed and 21 injured in a bombing outside a Moscow restaurant. Image Credit: X/@MarioNawfal
New Delhi: Three people were killed and 21 others injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded outside an upscale restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, according to Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC). The dead included the woman carrying the explosive device and a security guard who stopped her at the entrance and a customer inside the restaurant.
The explosion occurred shortly before 8pm local time at the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square, located in one of Moscow’s landmark Stalin-era skyscrapers. Emergency services, police and forensic investigators sealed off the area as authorities launched an investigation into what they described as a bombing.
According to the NAC, an unidentified woman attempted to enter the restaurant carrying what investigators believe was a homemade explosive device. A security guard stopped her before she entered the venue, after which the device exploded.
Russian authorities said 21 people sustained injuries of varying severity in the blast. They have not released the identities of those killed or injured, nor have they identified any suspects or said who they believe was responsible.
Reports point to possible military target
The Balzi Rossi restaurant had been closed to the public on Saturday for a private event, according to its website. Russian business daily Kommersant, citing unnamed investigative sources, reported that guests attending the private gathering may have been the intended targets.
The newspaper reported that investigators believe the explosive device may have been detonated remotely after the security guard became suspicious of a woman carrying a gift box. It also cited sources as saying the woman may not have known she was transporting an explosive device, though these claims have not been confirmed by Russian authorities.
Several Russian media outlets and Telegram channels claimed the private event was linked to a birthday celebration attended by senior Russian military officials, including the Russian Aerospace Forces commander, Colonel General Alexander Chaiko. However, Russian authorities have not confirmed the nature of the event or whether any senior military figures were present.
Investigation underway
Authorities have not attributed responsibility for the bombing or announced any arrests. Russia’s investigative committee and other security agencies are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The incident comes as Russia has tightened security around senior military officials following a series of assassinations and attempted attacks since the start of the war in Ukraine. Moscow has previously accused Ukrainian intelligence services of carrying out targeted attacks against Russian military personnel, though officials have not linked Saturday’s bombing to Ukraine or any other group.
The blast also recalls several high-profile attacks in recent years, including the 2025 car bombing that killed Russia’s General Yaroslav Moskalik, the 2024 assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, and earlier bomb attacks targeting pro-Kremlin public figures. Investigators have not indicated whether the latest bombing is connected to any previous incidents.
The Balzi Rossi restaurant expressed condolences to the families of those killed, saying it was deeply saddened by the tragedy and would provide assistance to affected families. The restaurant also apologized for an earlier social media post that it later described as “highly inappropriate”.
