Published: 24 February 2026
The English Chronicle Desk
The English Chronicle Online
An explosion near a major train station in central Moscow early Tuesday has killed a police officer and injured colleagues, Russian authorities have confirmed, prompting a criminal investigation into the blast.
The incident occurred just after midnight local time on Savyolovsky Station Square, a busy transport hub in the north‑eastern part of the Russian capital. According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, an unidentified individual approached a traffic police patrol vehicle and detonated an explosive device beside it. One officer died at the scene and two others were wounded. The attacker also died in the blast, officials said, but his identity and motive have not been disclosed.
The officer killed has been named by the Interior Ministry as Senior Police Lieutenant Denis Bratuschenko, 34, a traffic police inspector who joined the force in 2019. The ministry expressed condolences to his family, noting he is survived by his wife and two children. The two injured officers were taken to a city hospital and are receiving medical treatment.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, responsible for probing major crimes, has opened a case on the attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and illegal possession and use of an explosive device. Specialists are combing the blast site for evidence, and law enforcement agencies are working together to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the attack. No information has yet been released about possible motives or whether the explosion was linked to any organised group.
Savyolovsky Station is one of Moscow’s principal railway hubs, serving suburban lines and heavy commuter traffic. The blast disrupted early‑morning activity in the area as police cordoned off the square and emergency services responded. Surveillance footage from the scene is reportedly being reviewed as part of the inquiry.
The explosion comes as the city marked the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine — a date that has seen a series of security incidents in recent years. While Russian officials have firmly rejected responsibility for threats on their own soil, speculation about domestic or international motives for attacks on security personnel has intensified in some quarters. However, investigators have not yet drawn any public link between this incident and external conflict dynamics.
Moscow has experienced a number of explosive attacks targeting officials over the past year, including blasts in 2025 that killed police and military personnel. The city’s law enforcement leadership said the latest incident would be thoroughly examined, and that public safety measures would be reviewed in coordination with anti‑terrorism units.
Authorities have appealed for witnesses to come forward and for anyone with relevant information to assist in the ongoing investigation. As the inquiry continues, officials have maintained a heightened security presence around major transport hubs and public spaces. The motive behind the explosion and whether it represents an isolated act of violence or part of a broader pattern remains under active investigation.


























































































