Key facts
- Damir Davydov, a Russian military official, was killed in a car bombing outside Moscow on June 9, 2026.
- Davydov was responsible for supplying missile and artillery ammunition.
- The explosion occurred in Balashikha, Moscow Oblast.
- Russian authorities confirmed a death but have not officially identified the victim, citing an investigation.
- The incident occurred in a residential area for military personnel.
Damir Davydov, a Russian military official responsible for supplying missile and artillery ammunition, was killed in a car bombing outside Moscow on June 9, 2026, according to Russian independent investigative outlet The Insider. The explosion occurred in Balashikha, approximately 6 miles east of the capital.
Russian authorities confirmed a man died in the blast but have not officially disclosed the victim's identity, citing an ongoing investigation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on June 10 that President Vladimir Putin had been briefed on the incident. The Russian independent media outlet Agentstvo reported this is the first instance of authorities declining to disclose the identity of a victim in the assassination of a high-ranking military official.
According to investigators, the blast occurred as a BMW X3 was traveling near an apartment building on Koldunova Street. Eyewitnesses reported hearing emergency responders mention the name "Damir." The area is a residential neighborhood originally built for Russian military personnel and their families. The Investigative Committee announced the opening of a criminal case.
Unconfirmed reports cited by The Insider suggested Davydov died before paramedics arrived, while investigators stated the victim died from injuries sustained in the explosion. A Russian Telegram channel reported the explosive device was placed beneath the driver's seat and had a yield equivalent to 300-400 grams of TNT.
The bombing occurred less than a kilometer from the site where Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy chief of the Main Operations Directorate of Russia's General Staff, was killed in a car bombing in April 2025. Ukrainian authorities had not commented on the incident as of publication, and no evidence has emerged linking Kyiv to the Balashikha bombing.