Second Car Bombing in Russia in Two Days Injures Former Ukraine PM's Aide

A former aide to Ukraine's former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov was injured in a car bombing in Moscow on Friday, Russian media reported. The attack targeted Sergei Zavorotniy, who once served as a spokesman for Azarov, according to the Kommersant newspaper. The incident occurred in the Chertanovo district of the Russian capital.

Reports indicate that Zavorotniy lost his left arm in the explosion and suffered a concussion and rib fractures. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. Ren TV and the 112 Telegram channel both reported the injuries. A photograph published by the Baza Telegram channel showed a black four-door car with a smashed windshield, damaged doors and a destroyed front bumper.

Russia's Investigative Committee, which handles serious crimes, has opened an investigation into the incident. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine on Friday. Moscow has previously blamed Ukraine for assassinations of senior military officials and individuals linked to Russia's war effort.

The bombing is the second car explosion in Russia in as many days. On Thursday, a member of the Russian military was killed in a car bomb in St Petersburg. These incidents are part of a series of apparent assassination attempts inside Russia.

Mykola Azarov served as Ukraine's prime minister from 2010 to 2014. He fled to Russia in 2014 after Ukraine's Maidan Revolution ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, who broke a promise to develop closer ties with the European Union. Azarov told Russia's TASS state news agency on Friday that he had no information about the car bomb, except that Zavorotniy had survived.