---
title: "Bomb kills at least one person at luxury Moscow apartment building"
description: "MOSCOW, Feb 3 (Reuters) - A bomb tore through the lobby of a luxury apartment block in Moscow on Monday, killing at least one person and injuring four others in an attack targeting a pro-Russian paramilitary leader from eastern Ukraine, the state TASS news agency reported."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Russia"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-02-03-bomb-kills-at-least-one-person-at-luxury-moscow-apartment-building/"
published: "2025-02-03T12:46:48"
updated: "2025-02-03T12:46:50"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 270
---

# Bomb kills at least one person at luxury Moscow apartment building

> MOSCOW, Feb 3 (Reuters) - A bomb tore through the lobby of a luxury apartment block in Moscow on Monday, killing at least one person and injuring four others in an attack targeting a pro-Russian paramilitary leader from eastern Ukraine, the state TASS news agency reported.

By Reuters · Published 3 February 2025, 14:46 SAST · Updated 3 February 2025, 14:46 SAST

## Key points
- In a dramatic turn of events worthy of a spy novel, an assassination attempt on Armen Sarkisyan—dubbed a "crime boss" by Ukraine—unfolded with a bang near the Kremlin, leaving the alleged war supporter in critical condition and prompting an investigation into the masterminds behind the explosive plot.
- A bomb exploded at the "Scarlet Sails" complex in Moscow, targeting Armen Sarkisyan, a man accused of aiding Russia's military efforts in Ukraine.
- TASS reported the incident as an "assassination attempt," with Sarkisyan currently in critical condition and undergoing amputation.
- Investigators are probing the planned nature of the attack, aiming to identify those behind it, according to law enforcement sources.
- Ukraine's SBU previously labeled Sarkisyan a "crime boss" linked to pro-Russian forces in Donetsk, raising suspicions about the motive behind the attack.

## Content

The bomb detonated just as a man with bodyguards entered the lobby of the the "Scarlet Sails" complex on the banks of the Moskva River just 12 km (7 miles) from the Kremlin, according to Russian media.

TASS, citing law enforcement services, called the blast an "assassination attempt" and identified the suspected target as Armen Sarkisyan, who is accused by Ukraine of aiding Russia's war effort in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.

RIA, another state news agency, cited law enforcement as saying that Sarkisyan was in a critical condition, and that part of his leg was being amputated.

"The assassination attempt on Sarkisyan was carefully planned and was ordered. Investigators are currently identifying those who ordered the crime," TASS quoted a law enforcement official as saying.

Baza, a Telegram channel with contacts in Russia's security services, published video showing major damage to the lobby of the building. It said Sarkisyan had been seriously wounded in the blast. Reuters could not immediately confirm that report.

In December, Ukraine's SBU security service described Sarkisyan as a "crime boss" in the Donetsk region, much of which has been controlled by Moscow since 2014, and that he was officially suspected of participating in and aiding "illegal armed groups".

It said he had formed a pro-Russian military formation made up of local convict fighters and had organised purchases of supplies for frontline units.

In December, Ukraine took credit for the killing of Russian General Igor Kirillov in a bomb blast outside a Moscow apartment building. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine on Monday's blast.

(Writing by Felix Light; editing by Gareth Jones)