Lieutenant colonel reportedly killed in car explosion in Russia's St Petersburg

A car belonging to a lieutenant colonel from Russia's Air Force and air defence units exploded in the Pushkinsky district in St Petersburg on the morning of 27 August, killing him and injuring his wife.

Source: Fontanka.ru, a local Russian outlet; Megapolis | Accidents and Emergencies | St Petersburg | Piter, a Russian Telegram channel; Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+; Investigative Committee of Russia

Quote from Fontanka: "A car carrying a service member and his wife exploded on the Kolpinskoye Highway in St Petersburg. The man has been killed instantly, and the woman has been hospitalised."

Details: According to eyewitnesses, at around 10:00, the lieutenant colonel, who was behind the wheel, was driving away from his home. At that moment, an improvised explosive device reportedly detonated inside the car.

Early reports indicate that both the woman and the man lost their legs. The service member was killed instantly, while doctors are fighting to save the woman's life.

The explosion also damaged other vehicles and possibly a shop building nearby.

According to Exilenova+, a large part of the housing in the area of the incident belongs to Russia's Defence Ministry and is used by Russian service members and their families.

Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case into the vehicle fire, confirming one death and saying another person has been hospitalised with injuries.

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