Three Killed, 21 Injured in Bombing Near Upscale Moscow Restaurant
MOSCOW — August 1, 2026 — A homemade bomb exploded outside an upscale Italian restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, July 31, killing three people and wounding at least 21 others, according to Russian state media and security officials.
The blast occurred at approximately 8:00 p.m. local time (17:00 GMT) on Kudrinskaya Square, near one of Moscow’s famous Stalin-era skyscrapers . The explosion took place at the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant, which had been hosting a private function at the time .
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The Incident
According to Russia’s National Anti-Terrorist Committee (NAK), an unidentified woman carrying a homemade explosive device attempted to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard . The device detonated shortly after, killing the woman, the guard, and a restaurant visitor .
Initial reports had placed the number of wounded at 15, but authorities later revised the figure to 21, with injuries of varying severity .
The Kommersant daily newspaper, citing its own sources, suggested that the bomb may have been intended to target guests on the restaurant’s summer terrace, and that the device may have been detonated remotely by someone else, with the woman carrying it possibly unaware that it was an explosive device .
The restaurant issued a statement clarifying that the explosion occurred “outside” the establishment, countering initial reports that the blast had taken place in the kitchen . Video released by Russia’s RIA news agency showed heavily armed law enforcement officers at the scene, which had been cordoned off .
Context of Attacks in Russia
Russian authorities have not yet identified who they believe was responsible for the attack . However, the incident has drawn immediate comparisons to a series of assassinations and attempted killings of senior military and public figures in Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, which Moscow has blamed on Ukraine .
Previous attacks include:
- The killing of a senior general, Yaroslav Moskalik, in a car bomb in April 2025
- The death of nationalist Darya Dugina in a car bombing in August 2022
- The killing of pro-Kremlin military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky in a cafe explosion in Saint Petersburg in April 2023
- The assassination of General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian army’s chemical weapons division, in a scooter bomb in December 2024
Russia’s FSB security service had earlier this year announced stepped-up protection for high-ranking military officials following the series of assassinations .
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Investigation and Aftermath
The Moscow Investigative Committee has opened a criminal investigation into the attack . Investigators and forensic experts are examining the blast site, and authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims .
The area around Kudrinskaya Square was briefly closed to the public, and an evening cycling event scheduled to pass nearby was cancelled . A wedding reception was reportedly taking place at the venue at the time of the explosion .
As of Sunday, August 1, no group had claimed responsibility for the bombing, and authorities have not indicated whether they suspect involvement by Ukrainian intelligence or other actors.
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