What Did the Al Jazeera Correspondent Say About the Assassination of the Russian Army Operations Commander?

The Russian Federal Investigative Committee announced the death of Major General Vanil Safurov, head of the Operational Training Department in the Russian Army, after his car was bombed in the capital, Moscow. The explosion occurred at 7 a.m. Moscow time as the general was leaving his home heading to work, after the car had moved only a few meters.

Zaur Shvag, the Al Jazeera bureau chief in Moscow, explained that initial investigations indicate that an explosive device was planted under the car. The general died in the hospital after all attempts to save him failed, in an incident that adds to a series of assassinations targeting senior military officials since the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

In a related context, Shvag pointed out that the Federal Investigative Committee, based on preliminary data, indicates the involvement of Ukrainian intelligence in the operation.

The scenario closely matches the method used in the assassination of other Russian military officials, foremost among them Kirillov, the Deputy Chief of Staff and commander of the Russian chemical forces, who was killed in the same manner.

The continuation of these assassinations of high-ranking military security figures has raised serious questions in Russia about deep security breaches within the country. The incident also raises dangerous questions about the absence of special protection for senior military leaders in the General Staff and the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Shvag noted that the assassinated general was driving his car alone without any protection or escort. The high-ranking position he held as head of the Combat Operations Department in the Russian Armed Forces carried significant military weight, especially given his long experience in Russian military operations in Syria in 2016, Chechnya, and the separatist region of South Ossetia in Georgia.

The explosion occurred in a densely populated residential complex on the outskirts of Moscow. Shvag explained that the location was a parking lot belonging to the residents of the buildings, in an area not classified as an upscale neighborhood or city center.

On another note, Shvag expected that the Russian leadership would exploit this assassination to accuse the Ukrainian side of attempting to obstruct the political settlement process.

The timing is sensitive considering the somewhat encouraging news about positive atmospheres in the recent talks conducted by the Russian envoy in Miami, who is supposed to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin today and present him with a detailed report on the negotiations with the Americans.

Regarding expected reactions, Shvag predicted that official Russian statements would be issued in the coming hours from the Ministry of Defense and the Kremlin spokesperson.

Moscow usually tries to present such operations as desperate attempts by the Ukrainian side to send a message to its Western supporters that Ukrainian forces are capable of resistance and penetrating deep into Russian territory.

Shvag pointed out that Ukraine is effectively able to achieve part of these goals, as evidenced by targeting infrastructure facilities, especially energy facilities, ports, and other military areas. These operations reflect Ukraine's ability to carry out qualitative operations aimed at proving its capabilities to its Western allies.

From a security analysis perspective, Shvag explained that the incident raises serious questions about the effectiveness of security measures in Moscow despite the widespread presence of cameras.

He noted that prominent figures have their residences known in detail, and cameras monitor every movement of people in Moscow with great precision, which makes the repetition of such assassinations striking and raises serious questions about the security procedures followed.

The circulated images of the targeted car showed the extent of the damage it suffered in the parking lot, reflecting the perpetrators' ability to reach their targets despite all the supposed security measures in the Russian capital, amid a war ongoing for four years that has witnessed significant security breaches at high levels.