Russian and pro-Moscow media are reporting that Aleksandr Chaiko, head of the Russian Aerospace Forces and one of those responsible for the Butja massacres, was celebrating his birthday at a restaurant in Moscow when an explosion occurred.
There is no confirmed information yet about his injuries or exactly what happened – but several channels suggest that he may have been among the victims.
Who is Chaiko?
Russian general, former commander of the 1st Guards Army
Directly linked to mass murder, torture and destruction in Butja
One of the most notorious commanders in Putin’s war machine
That he would be the one to be hit by an explosion in Moscow is… well, geopolitical irony at the highest level.
What we know right now
The explosion occurred at a restaurant in Moscow
Chaiko was reportedly there to celebrate his birthday
Russian media is divided: some say he was injured, others that he survived
It is unusual for a high-ranking general to even be in a public place in Moscow.
That an explosion occurred at that time is… statistically creative.
We are following the updates
This could be a big story – or one of those Russian “all is calm” smoke screens.
But if one of the Butja architects was really hit by an explosion in Moscow, then it is symbolically heavy.