Russian media report another general may have been killed in Moscow explosion

Russian media report that Major General Valery Plokhotnyuk, who allegedly died in the explosion at the Balzi Rossi restaurant on 1 August, was buried in Moscow on 5 August. At the same time, reports of the death of Lieutenant General Igor Yerusalimov may be false.

Source: Mediazona; Telegram channel VChK-OGPU; Verstka

Details: Telegram channel VChK-OGPU reported that Major General Valery Plokhotnyuk was buried on 5 August. The authors of the post claim he was killed in the explosion at the Balzi Rossi restaurant on 1 August.

According to the channel, Daniil Peredriy – son-in-law of Russian Aerospace Forces Commander-in-Chief Alexander Chaiko – was also buried on 6 August. He also died on 1 August in the restaurant explosion, which occurred during celebrations for Chaiko's 55th birthday.

Mediazona used state registries to verify that Valery Plokhotnyuk died on 1 August.

Russian ruler Vladimir Putin awarded Plokhotnyuk the rank of major general in 2021, at which time he was chief of staff of the 49th Combined Arms Army. In 2011, Russia's defence minister appointed Plokhotnyuk head of the operational group of Russian forces in Transnistria.

Verstka, meanwhile, suggests that Lieutenant General Igor Yerusalimov – whose funeral was reported by Russian media the previous day – may still be alive. A representative of the outlet reached the number belonging to the serviceman and spoke with its owner.

At the start of the conversation, the Verstka correspondent addressed the person as "Yerusalimov" by first name and patronymic. The person responded: "I'm listening". However, when the correspondent identified themselves, the person said: "Don't write anything about me."

Background:

• An explosion occurred at the Balzi Rossi restaurant in Kudrinskaya Square in central Moscow on 1 August. The restaurant had been closed for a private event. Pro-Russian bloggers reported that the event may have been held to celebrate Chaiko's 55th birthday.
• The Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee said an unidentified woman had attempted to bring an improvised explosive device into the restaurant disguised as a gift but was stopped by a security guard.
• The woman, the security guard and one of the guests were killed in the explosion, while another 21 people were injured. Russian media outlets reported a total of 5 fatalities.
• Russian media also published reports of the funeral of Lieutenant General Igor Yerusalimov, who may have been killed in the restaurant explosion.

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