Authorities say a woman tried to deliver a homemade explosive device to a private event, and investigators have not identified a motive or claimed responsibility.
On Saturday, August 1, 2026, an improvised explosive device detonated outside Balzi Rossi on Kudrinskaya Square in Moscow, killing three people and injuring 21 others, according to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
The National Anti-Terrorism Committee reported a security guard intercepted an unidentified woman attempting to enter the restaurant carrying a homemade explosive device; the device detonated prematurely at the entrance.
Media outlets including Kommersart reported the blast likely targeted guests at a private event, with unverified reports identifying the gathering as Colonel-General Alexander Chaiko's 55th birthday celebration.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin condemned the attack as a 'brutal terrorist act,' stating victims are receiving care, while officials postponed the city's Second Night Cycling Festival.
The attack mirrors previous bombings targeting figures linked to the Ukraine war, including the 2023 death of blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, as Russian authorities continue promising increased security for high-ranking officials.