Russian general killed by car bomb just outside Moscow; murder probe launched

An explosive device ripped through a parked car near Moscow on Friday killing a senior Russian general, the Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes said, adding it had launched a murder probe.

Authorities identified the victim as General-lieutenant Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the main operational directorate of the military's General Staff.

Investigators said they had opened a probe into murder and smuggling explosives after the Volkswagen Golf blew up outside a block of flats in the town of Balashikha, east of Moscow.