Russia’s Investigative Committee announced on Friday, November 13, 2026, that it has opened an investigation into a car explosion in Moscow. Russian media outlets reported that the vehicle belonged to Sergei Zavorotniy, an exiled Ukrainian political aide who was hospitalized following the blast.
Zavorotniy previously served as a spokesperson for former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. He has resided in Russia since 2014, when he left Ukraine during anti-government protests. The incident in Moscow follows a separate explosion on Thursday, November 12, in St. Petersburg, where investigators said a member of the Russian military was killed when the car he was driving blew up.
Regarding the Moscow explosion, the 112 Telegram channel and Ren TV reported that Zavorotniy sustained injuries including the loss of his left arm, a concussion, and rib fractures. The Baza Telegram channel released an image of a black four-door car with a damaged windshield and bumper at the scene. Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment on the event.
A resident in these areas would notice increased police activity and the presence of the Investigative Committee, which handles serious crimes in Russia. The attacks occurred as diplomatic efforts continued elsewhere, including recent trilateral peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi involving U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The knock-on effects of such incidents often influence the tone of international relations and peace negotiations. President Vladimir Putin recently stated that while he is open to dialogue with European representatives, he views the potential deployment of foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine as a "continuation of war." The Investigative Committee is currently processing the Moscow site, and further details regarding suspects or specific charges have not yet been released. No court dates or deadlines related to the investigation were reported.