A high-ranking Russian military officer was killed today in a suspected car bomb explosion in Moscow.
Lt-Gen Fanil Sarvarov, 56, was head of the Department of Operational Training of Vladimir Putin's armed forces.
The top brass commander was going to work at the Russian defence ministry in his Kia Sorento when it was hit by a massive blast in Yasenevo district.
The Russian authorities initially indicated the officer was gravely wounded, but later updated to confirm that he had died.
Sarvarov was last year personally promoted by Putin, and was known to have been close to Russia's most senior general, Valery Gerasimov, chief of the defence staff.
Rescuers initially found the victim alive but wounded and trapped in the mangled vehicle.
There was immediate suspicion of a Ukrainian assassination bid against the high ranking officer.
His wife rushed to the scene at the 6:55am explosion but was initially 'not allowed to see her trapped and wounded husband'.