A burial ceremony has been conducted in secrecy for a high-ranking Russian military official who was one of President Vladimir Putin’s top commanders, recent reports reveal.
During an unfortunate incident at an upscale restaurant in Moscow over the weekend, five individuals, including 53-year-old Lt-Gen Igor Yerusalimov, lost their lives in a bomb explosion. The explosion occurred during a birthday celebration for Col-Gen Alexander Chayko, the head of the Russian Aerospace Forces, where several military officials, politicians, and bureaucrats were present.
Yerusalimov was positioned near the front of the restaurant when a female courier, unknowingly carrying a “gift” for Chayko, was intercepted by a security operative. It is suspected that the courier was used as a “suicide bomber” without her awareness. Tragically, both the woman and the security officer lost their lives in the blast, with nine others sustaining injuries.
Chayko, who was in charge of Russian forces during the Bucha Massacre in Kyiv, emerged unharmed from the incident. He has been labeled a wanted “war criminal” by Ukraine for his alleged involvement in the 2022 attacks.
Following the explosion, it was reported that Chayko’s daughter, Maria, suffered a severe brain injury, while his son-in-law, Daniil Peredriy, succumbed to injuries sustained in the blast. The Kremlin has not disclosed the identities of the other victims involved in the tragedy.
Yerusalimov, who was a highly esteemed figure and a two-time appointee by Putin, was laid to rest with tight security measures at Troekurovskoye cemetery. His passing marks another loss among numerous Russian generals who have perished since the commencement of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
