A bomb attack in a military garrison in Russia targeted a Russian general known as the “Butcher of Bucea”. The explosion resulted, however, in the death of an officer under his command.
Major General Azatbek Omurbekov Photo: X
The attack took place on Tuesday morning around 09:00 in the Knyaze-Volkonskoye-1 military settlement, a restricted area near the city of Khabarovsk, where access is strictly controlled.
According to the cited sources, the target of the attack should have been Major General Azatbek Omurbekov, commander of the Russian troops involved in the occupation of the city of Bucha in 2022. He was sanctioned by the European Union, being accused of his role in the actions resulting in the death of hundreds of Ukrainian civilians, reports theguardian.
Omurbekov is associated in the public space with the nickname of “The butcher from Bucea”, used by some international publications in the context of allegations of alleged war crimes.
The bomb, placed in a mailbox
According to the information provided by three sources close to the investigation, the explosive device would have been placed in a mailbox, between the first and second floors of a housing block intended for military personnel. The attacker also allegedly installed a video camera to monitor the detonation.
However, the plan did not achieve its goal. The explosion occurred in front of another entrance than the one originally targeted, and a lieutenant colonel identified as Kuzmenko was killed. The main target, General Omurbekov, was not at the scene and was not injured.
Knyaze-Volkonskoye-1 is described as a closed military community located in a strategic area of the Russian Far East, close to the border with China. Access is allowed only on the basis of special approvals, and the perimeter is permanently monitored by military forces.
Following the explosion, the area of the block was isolated, and patrols were intensified, according to local sources.
Although there is no official confirmation from the Russian or Ukrainian authorities, the incident is interpreted by some sources as part of a series of operations attributed to Ukrainian sabotage structures, which would have targeted Russian military officials and people involved in the war in Ukraine in recent years.
Since the beginning of the conflict, several assassination attempts have been reported against high-ranking officers or officials installed by Moscow in the occupied territories.
So far, Russian authorities have not provided a detailed official comment on the incident. The Ukrainian side did not react publicly either.
