A car of a Russian army lieutenant colonel exploded in St. Petersburg: one victim

In St. Petersburg on the morning of August 27, a car carrying a Russian serviceman with the rank of lieutenant colonel and his wife exploded. The man died on the spot, the woman was hospitalized with severe injuries.

Astra reports this, citing the Russian publication "Fontanka". Information about one dead and one hospitalized was also officially confirmed by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in St. Petersburg.

The explosion occurred in the Pushkinsky district of the city, on Kolpinskoye Highway near Slavyanka. According to Russian media, the car exploded around 10:00, when the couple was leaving the house.

"Fontanka" preliminarily reported that an improvised explosive device could have detonated inside the car. As a result of the explosion, both victims suffered extremely severe leg injuries. The serviceman died on the spot, his wife was taken to the hospital.

The deceased served in the Air Force and Air Defense - media

Later "Fontanka" clarified that the deceased was a lieutenant colonel of the Russian Air Force and Air Defense Forces. Telegram channel "112" claims he was a military pilot.

The name and specific place of service of the deceased have not yet been officially disclosed.

The Russian Investigative Committee, in its message, did not specify either the military rank of the deceased or the possible cause of the explosion. The agency only stated about a "car fire", as a result of which two people were injured: one died, the other was hospitalized.

Investigative Committee opened a criminal case

After the incident, the St. Petersburg department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation initiated a criminal case. At the same time, the agency did not name the article of the Criminal Code under which the investigation is being conducted.

Investigators, criminologists, and operational services worked at the scene. Russian law enforcement officers stated that they would order expert examinations and establish all the circumstances of the event.

The footage published by Astra shows a damaged car, other cars, and shopping pavilions near the explosion site. Medics were also taking the injured woman from the scene.

Who could be behind the possible car bombing is currently unknown. Russian law enforcement agencies have not publicly named suspects and have not reported a established motive.