Explosion at Moscow restaurant kills 3; VKS Commander Chayko may have been target
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
An explosion at Moscow's Balzi Rossi restaurant on August 1 kills three people and wounds 21, according to authorities. Russian pro-war Telegram channels and Ukrainian monitoring resources claim the attack targeted Aerospace Forces (VKS) Commander-in-Chief Alexander Chayko, who was holding a birthday celebration there but was not harmed. No official confirmation of Chayko's presence has been provided.
The Explosion
On August 1, an improvised explosive device detonated near the summer terrace of the Balzi Rossi restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square in central Moscow. Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAK) confirmed the blast, and authorities opened a terrorism case under Article 205 of the Criminal Code. According to Kommersant sources, a female suicide bomber was unwittingly used, carrying the device disguised as a gift; it was detonated remotely when she told a guard about the box, killing both. The explosive power was equivalent to about 1 kg of TNT. Official figures cited 3 dead and 21 wounded, though some outlets like Manset initially reported 5 fatalities.
The Suspected Target
Pro-war blogger Kirill Fedorov, the 'Notes of a Veteran' blog, and Ukrainian monitoring channel Supernova+ claimed the explosion aimed at Alexander Chayko. Video from the venue showed a stage inscription 'Alexander 55,' marking his 55th birthday on July 27. Chayko, appointed VKS commander in May 2026, previously led the Eastern Military District and is accused by Ukraine of war crimes in Bucha and other areas. The Telegram channel VChK-OGPU said the celebration also involved FSB officers, generals, deputies, and officials, and that Chayko planned to combine his birthday with marking his new appointment. Ukraine's SBU issued a fresh in-absentia suspicion against him on June 29, 2026, over shelling in Zhytomyr region in 2022. Chayko was not injured.
What's Next
Investigators are continuing to examine the site, and official results are expected on Monday. It remains unclear whether the attack was a targeted assassination ordered by Ukrainian services or the work of other actors.
3 sources
Explosion at Moscow restaurant kills 3; VKS Commander Chayko may have been target
