Top Russian general killed in 'birthday gift' bomb at exclusive Moscow restaurant

Top Russian general killed in 'birthday gift' bomb at exclusive Moscow restaurant Five people were killed and nine others injured in a bomb blast at the exclusive restaurant over the weekend, including 53-year-old Lt-Gen Igor Yerusalimov A burial has secretly taken place for one of Russian President Vladimr Putin's top commanders, according to reports. Five people were killed in a bomb blast at an exclusive Moscow restaurant over the weekend, including 53-year-old Lt-Gen Igor Yerusalimov. High-ranking military officials, politicians and bureaucrats were inside the Balzi Rossi restaurant on Saturday, August 1 when the home-made device detonated during the 55th birthday party of senior commander Col-Gen Alexander Chayko, head of Russian Aerospace Forces. Yerusalimov was at the front of the restaurant when a female courier was stopped by a security operative as she carried a "gift" for Chayko. It is being reported that she was likely used as a "suicide bomber" without her knowledge. Both the woman and the security officer were killed in the blast. Nine others were wounded. Chayko, who was the commander of Russian forces on the Kyiv front during the Bucha Massacre when troops committed mass rapes and tortures, is believed to have been unhurt. Ukraine designated Chayko a wanted "war criminal" over his alleged role in the 2022 attacks. His daughter Maria, 25, was seriously wounded with a "traumatic brain injury" in the explosion, while his son-in-law, Daniil Peredriy, 27, was killed from wounds in the blast, according to sources. The Kremlin did not share the names of the other victims. Yerusalimov was the most senior victim of the incident at the £85,000 party. He was twice promoted by Putin, according to Telegram channel VKCh-OGPU, which is closely linked to law enforcement. His high-security burial took place at Troekurovskoye cemetery. Yerusalimov's death is the latest in more than a dozen Russian generals killed since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.