While clashes continue on the war fronts, a less visible war is underway featuring intelligence services and special operations teams in Russia and Ukraine. The latest episode in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict behind the front lines that managed to come to light is the car bomb explosion in the Moscow region. According to Russian and independent media, Damir Davydov, head of the Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Defense Ministry and an official responsible for supplying Russian forces with missiles and ammunition, was driving the vehicle.
Moscow car bombing: The moment of explosion
The explosion occurred around 5:30 AM on Tuesday, when the car driven by Davydov exploded near an apartment building in the Balashikha suburb, east of Moscow. The driver was killed instantly.
The independent Russian investigative outlet “The Insider” reported that the victim was Davydov, confirming previous information transmitted by various Telegram channels. Initially, Russian authorities had only confirmed the incident and the launch of a criminal investigation, without revealing the identity of the deceased.
The lack of official information had led to speculation, with some Telegram channels reporting that the victim of the attack might have been senior Russian Aerospace Forces officer Alexander Maksimtsev.
Meanwhile, according to reports, Russian authorities located a second car bomb in southwestern Moscow, which was neutralized through a controlled explosion.
During the war in Ukraine, several attacks and assassinations of high-ranking figures connected to the Russian war effort have occurred, with Ukrainian security services either claiming responsibility or being accused by Moscow of organizing them.
🔥A car exploded in the Moscow region — the driver has died
It is likely a targeted elimination. It is not yet known who was behind the wheel.
The Aviator microdistrict in Balashikha, where the explosion occurred, was originally built for Russian military personnel and their… pic.twitter.com/uBDPGkfIo2
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 9, 2026
According to media reports, the person blown up in his own car by a suicide bomber in Balashikha was indeed Colonel Damir Davydov of the Russian Armed Forces; he headed the department for the supply of missile and artillery ammunition within the GRAU (Main Missile and Artillery… pic.twitter.com/bGTiTEDjdi
— Jürgen Nauditt 🇩🇪🇺🇦 (@jurgen_nauditt) June 9, 2026
