Plot to bomb top Russian army official sparks fears

A suspicious device was discovered beneath the SUV of a 54-year-old colonel from Russia’s elite Airborne Forces (VDV) in Moscow on Tuesday, state-run RT reported. It prompted authorities to cordon off the area and deploy a bomb squad.
The vehicle had reportedly been vandalized days earlier, raising concerns of a targeted assassination attempt.
The VDV, short for “Vozdushno-Desantnye Voyska,” is Russia’s airborne military branch known for rapid deployment and strategic operations. Often referred to as “Uncle Vasya’s Troops,” the VDV has played significant roles in various conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.
This incident follows a series of attacks on high-ranking Russian military officials.
In April 2025, Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the Russian General Staff, was killed by a car bomb in Balashikha, near Moscow. Russian authorities attributed the attack to Ukrainian operatives.