IED event in St. Petersburg, Pushkinsky District area, Russian Federation on Thu 27th August 2026

Lieutenant colonel reportedly killed by car bomb in St Petersburg – photos, video.

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

Source: Fontanka.ru, a local St Petersburg 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 has exploded on the Kolpinskoye Highway in St Petersburg. A service member and his wife were in the car. The man was killed instantly, and the woman has been hospitalised."

Details: According to eyewitnesses, the lieutenant colonel left his home at around 10:00. He was driving. As he pulled away, an improvised explosive device in the car is reported to have detonated.

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

Update: At 14:56, Russia's Investigative Committee announced that the identities of the victims have been established and confirmed that the deceased was a member of the armed forces and the injured woman was his wife.

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

According to Exilenova+, much of the housing in the vicinity is owned by Russia's Defence Ministry and used by Russian service members and their families.

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