Car explodes in Moscow; Russian media say it belonged to ex-Ukrainian PM's former spokesman

A car exploded in Moscow, and Russia's Investigative Committee has opened an investigation. The Hindu attributes the investigation to a statement by the Committee on Friday, 13 November 2026. Deutsche Welle attributes it to media reports.

The blast came one day after a separate car explosion in St Petersburg. On Thursday, 12 November 2026, a member of the Russian military was killed there. The Hindu attributes this to investigators. According to investigators cited by The Hindu, the man was driving the car when it was blown up.

Who owned the car

According to Russian media, the car in Moscow belonged to Sergei Zavorotniy. Both Deutsche Welle and The Hindu attribute the ownership to Russian media, not to officials. Reports citing Russian media describe Zavorotniy as a former spokesman for Mykola Azarov. Deutsche Welle describes him as an exiled Ukrainian political aide.

Azarov served as Ukraine's prime minister from 2010 to 2014, according to Deutsche Welle. According to both outlets, Azarov fled from Ukraine to Russia amid anti-government protests in 2014. The Hindu reports that he has been living in Russia since then.

Reported injuries

The Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that Zavorotniy was hospitalized. Both outlets cite this same newspaper. According to Ren TV and the 112 Telegram channel, as cited by Deutsche Welle, Zavorotniy lost his left arm. The same outlets reported that he also sustained a concussion, rib fractures and other injuries. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include official confirmation of these injuries.

What each side says

According to Deutsche Welle, Azarov told Russia's TASS state news agency on Friday that he does not know anything about the explosion, except that Zavorotniy survived.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine, according to Deutsche Welle.

What remains unclear

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include an official finding on the cause of the Moscow explosion. Both outlets' headlines describe it as a car bomb, and Deutsche Welle's text also calls it a car bomb, while The Hindu's text refers to an explosion; neither cites an official source for the term. The reports do not describe whether Zavorotniy was in or near the car, or exactly when and where in Moscow the blast happened. They do not say what charges or legal classification the Investigative Committee is using. They do not identify any suspect or claim of responsibility.

The reports also do not name the serviceman killed in St Petersburg. They do not include investigators' assessment of the cause of that explosion. They do not establish any link between the two blasts. Describing them as a series is the outlets' framing, not an official finding.

Analysis

Key facts remain unverified by officials, including who owned the Moscow car and the extent of Zavorotniy's injuries. Both outlets trace these details to the same Russian sources, so independent confirmation is limited. If the Investigative Committee releases its findings, it could clarify the cause, the legal classification and whether there is any connection to the St Petersburg blast. Without that, linking the two explosions is not supported by the reports. Statements from Ukrainian authorities, or a claim of responsibility, could change the picture. Until then, readers should treat ownership, injuries and any motive as open questions.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.