Lavrov accuses Kyiv of attempting to assassinate a Russian general to sabotage negotiations
In a dangerous escalation of events within Russia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov directly accused the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, of being behind an assassination attempt targeting a high-ranking Russian army general, which occurred Friday morning in Moscow. Russian diplomats asserted that this incident was not merely a security breach, but a political message intended to obstruct international efforts to end the conflict.
Details of the incident and security breach in Moscow
The Russian Investigative Committee, which handles major crimes, reported that an army general was shot by an unknown assailant inside a residential building in Moscow, requiring immediate hospitalization. The fact that the incident occurred in a residential area of the capital indicates a significant shift in attacks targeting Russian military figures, far from active front lines, raising serious questions about the security measures surrounding senior military commanders within Russia.
Lavrov: An attempt to undermine US mediation
The Russian Foreign Minister directly linked the timing of the attack to ongoing diplomatic efforts. Lavrov stated that this "terrorist act," as he described it, confirms the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's regime's tendency toward "continuous provocations." The Russian minister explained that the strategic objective behind this attack is to undermine the ongoing US-mediated talks aimed at finding a solution to the conflict in Ukraine, noting that Kyiv is trying to derail the negotiations by provoking Moscow into reactions that could derail the diplomatic process.
The context of the "shadow war" between Moscow and Kyiv
This incident is part of a series of operations that observers describe as an intelligence "shadow war" between the two sides. Over the past few months, Russian territory has witnessed several attacks targeting public and military figures, which Moscow considers evidence of Kyiv's adoption of "lone-wolf" terrorism tactics. Conversely, analysts believe that bringing the battle to the heart of Moscow carries significant symbolic weight, aimed at impacting Russian morale and demonstrating the adversary's ability to strike sensitive targets.
Expected repercussions on the course of the crisis
This incident is expected to cast a dark shadow over any prospects for de-escalation in the near future. The targeting of a high-ranking general could prompt the Kremlin to take more drastic measures, both on the ground and in tightening its internal security grip. Furthermore, Lavrov's accusation that Kyiv was attempting to sabotage "American mediation" puts Washington in a delicate position, as mediators will have to redouble their efforts to prevent the collapse of the recently established back channels aimed at ending the war.
