A pro-Russian militia group founder in eastern Ukraine, described as a 'criminal mastermind' by Kyiv authorities, has died following a bombing in central Moscow, as reported by Russian state media.
Armen Sarkisyan, also known as 'Armen Gorlovsky', succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion at an upmarket residential complex in Moscow. The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed his death, stating that despite medical assistance, Sarkisyan passed away at a Moscow hospital.
Sarkisyan founded the separatist Arbat Battalion, which Ukraine's Defense Intelligence labeled as a well-known criminal figure who supervised prisons in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories. The battalion, established in 2022 to counterbalance the influence of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, consisted mainly of former Wagner personnel.
Having been an ally of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Sarkisyan was wanted in Ukraine for his alleged involvement in the violent response to protests that led to Yanukovych's ousting in 2014.
The incident occurred as Sarkisyan was leaving the Aliye Parusa residential complex in northwest Moscow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refrained from commenting, stating that the special services are investigating the matter.
