There may have been an attempt in Moscow to assassinate Chaika, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces
The main target of the explosion at the upscale Balzi Rossi restaurant in central Moscow, which occurred on the evening of August 1, may have been Alexander Chaiko, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
According to Z-blogger Kirill Fedorov and the Telegram channel “A Veteran’s Notes,” the explosion was specifically targeted at Chaiko. Pro-Russian blogger Anatoly Shariy also posted a video from the restaurant showing a banner that read “Alexander—55 Years Old.” According to Russian sources, the restaurant was hosting a celebration for Chaiko’s birthday and his appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
According to *Kommersant*, the party was heavily guarded. The explosives may have been brought into the restaurant by a woman who allegedly was unaware of their contents and claimed she was carrying a gift. The device, filled with metal pellets, was detonated remotely. According to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the explosion killed the woman, a restaurant security guard, and another patron; more than 20 people were injured.
Information regarding the fate of Alexander Chaika himself remains contradictory. Some Russian media outlets claim that he survived, but there is currently no official confirmation of this.
Chaika took command of the Russian Aerospace Forces in May 2026. At the start of the full-scale invasion, he commanded Russian troops operating in the Kyiv region, and he is currently on trial in Ukraine for war crimes, specifically those related to the events in Bucha.
UNIAN reports this, citing Russian media.
As a reminder, an explosion occurred at the Balzi Rossi restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square in central Moscow, after which a fire broke out in the building. According to Russian media, three people were killed and at least 15 others were injured.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill (Vladimir Gundyaev), stated that the creation of the atomic bomb in the USSR was a manifestation of “God’s grace” and helped prevent the country’s destruction. He made this statement after the liturgy at the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Divyevsky Monastery.
