A private funeral has been held for a senior Russian military figure linked to President Vladimir Putin, as per recent accounts. Reportedly, a bomb explosion at an upscale restaurant in Moscow resulted in the demise of five individuals, including 53-year-old Lt-Gen Igor Yerusalimov.
The incident occurred during a celebration at the Balzi Rossi restaurant where prominent military officials, politicians, and bureaucrats were present. Yerusalimov was tragically caught in the blast while positioned near the restaurant’s entrance, where a suspected female courier unknowingly carried an explosive device intended for senior commander Col-Gen Alexander Chayko’s birthday party.
Tragically, the female courier and a security officer lost their lives in the explosion, while nine others sustained injuries. Despite the chaos, Chayko, who had a controversial past related to the Bucha Massacre in Ukraine, emerged unscathed.
Following the explosion, Ukrainian authorities labeled Chayko a wanted “war criminal” for his alleged involvement in the 2022 attacks. The aftermath of the blast left Chayko’s daughter critically injured with a traumatic brain injury and his son-in-law fatally wounded.
The identities of the other victims have not been disclosed by the Kremlin. Yerusalimov, a highly-regarded figure who had received promotions from Putin, was laid to rest in a high-security ceremony at Troekurovskoye cemetery.
His unfortunate demise adds to the growing number of Russian generals who have lost their lives since the initiation of Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine.