‘Ukraine to blame’ for Moscow bomb

By the Editorial Team · Monday, August 3, 2026

The Russian Embassy in Rome blamed Ukrainian operatives for a deadly bombing at Moscow’s Balzi Rossi restaurant that killed between three and five people and injured around 20. The embassy claimed the attack targeted Italians in Russia to send a threatening message, while Russian officials have yet to confirm responsibility amid conflicting casualty reports.

The Russian Embassy in Rome attributed a deadly bombing at a Moscow restaurant on Saturday night to Ukrainian operatives, claiming the attack aimed to intimidate the Italian community in Russia. In a statement released yesterday, the embassy accused “Kyiv terrorists” of targeting Italians working in Russia to demonstrate that they could become future victims.

The explosion took place at the Balzi Rossi restaurant, located on the ground floor of a Stalin-era high-rise apartment building in Moscow, killing five people and injuring 19 others, according to the embassy. It noted that the Italian chef and staff members inside the restaurant survived due to the actions of a vigilant Russian security guard, praised for his dedication.

Initial reports from the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, which supervises coordination among security agencies, gave a slightly different account. The committee stated that three people died: a woman who carried the bomb into the restaurant, a security guard who attempted to stop her, and a guest present at the scene. It also reported 21 injuries resulting from the blast near the restaurant’s entrance.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin condemned the bombing as a “brutal terrorist act,” though he refrained from assigning responsibility for the explosion. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the embassy’s accusation or offer explanations regarding the discrepancy in the reported number of fatalities.

Several Russian media outlets have suggested the bombing targeted a Russian general celebrating his birthday at the restaurant. Some reports identified the general as Alexander Chaiko, recently appointed chief of Russia’s Aerospace Forces. This follows a pattern of Russian authorities attributing various attacks on senior military figures to Ukrainian agents. Earlier this year, Russia’s Federal Security Service announced plans to increase security measures around high-ranking military officials.

Ukrainian authorities have not issued any immediate response to the embassy’s allegations.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.