A Ukrainian born man has been extradited from Türkiye to Russia over accusations he was involved in the killing of Russian Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik. The Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation announced the arrest of Ihnat Kuzin, born in 1983, following his detention abroad.
According to the Russian authorities, Kuzin, who holds a residence permit in Ukraine, was identified as an agent of the Ukrainian intelligence services. Investigators allege that Kuzin planted an explosive device in a car parked near Moskalik’s residence in the Moscow suburb of Balashikha. The bomb detonated as the general exited the building, causing fatal injuries that killed him at the scene.
The place where General Moskalik was killed. Photo by Reuters
The FSB claims that the device was remotely triggered from Ukrainian territory. Kuzin is alleged to have parked the Volkswagen Golf packed with explosives and fitted with a surveillance camera close to the building on 16 April 2025. Witnesses stated it was the last time anyone was seen near the car until the explosion.
On 25 April 2025, at approximately 10:40 a.m., the Volkswagen Golf exploded. The blast was intensified by the detonation of the car’s gas cylinder, reportedly throwing Moskalik several metres away and causing immediate death. Lieutenant General Moskalik served as Deputy Head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
Following the planting of the bomb, Kuzin is believed to have fled Russia for Türkiye on 19 April 2025, only a few days before the assassination. After his detention in Türkiye, he was extradited to Russia at Moscow’s request.
Ihnat Kuzin is originally from Sumy, a city in northeastern Ukraine. However, since 2015 he had reportedly been registered as a resident in the Russian Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia.
This case is not the first time Türkiye has agreed to extradite individuals accused by Russia of attacks on its military personnel. In July 2024, Yevgeny Serebryakov, suspected of a separate bombing of a Russian military officer’s car, was similarly extradited from Türkiye to Moscow.
