MOSCOW — The Russian diplomatic mission in Rome has directly blamed Ukraine for a deadly weekend explosion at a high-end Italian restaurant in central Moscow, alleging the attack was intended to intimidate Italian citizens in Russia. However, the embassy provided no evidence to back its claim, and key Russian authorities have stopped short of attributing responsibility.
The attack occurred Saturday night at Balzi Rossi, an upscale establishment located on the ground floor of a Stalin-era high-rise building. According to Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee, an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated near the restaurant’s entrance, killing at least three people and injuring around 21 others.
Groundless Claims of Intimidation
In a public statement released Monday, the Russian Embassy in Rome explicitly pointed the finger at Kyiv, accusing « Kyiv terrorists » of attempting to target the expatriate community.
The embassy claimed the perpetrators sought to « scare the Italians working in Russia and to show them that they too are in the crosshairs and could become the scoundrels’ next victims, » while noting that the restaurant’s Italian chef and staff were spared only due to the vigilance of security personnel.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry did not comment on the statement issued by its Rome embassy. Ukrainian authorities have not publicly commented on the embassy’s allegations.
Official Silence on Primary Target
Despite the diplomatic rhetoric from Rome, investigative authorities in Moscow have been far more reserved:
- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin publicly condemned the blast, describing it as a « brutal terrorist act » on Sunday, but did not indicate who he believed was behind the strike.
- Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee confirmed the detonation of the homemade bomb and the casualties but refrained from officially identifying a suspected perpetrator or specific intended target.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ BALZI ROSSI BOMBING SNAPSHOT │
├──────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Location │ Balzi Rossi, Central Moscow │
│ Attack Method │ Detonation of an Improvised Explosive Device│
│ Initial Reported Toll │ At least 3 killed, 21 injured │
│ Official Stance (Moscow) │ Labeled "terrorist act"; target undisclosed │
│ Unverified Reports │ Targeted Col. Gen. Alexander Chayko │
└──────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Potential High-Value Military Target
While state agencies have kept details quiet, military analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that multiple Russian sources suspect the blast was an targeted assassination attempt.
Unconfirmed reports circulating across Russian military channels suggest that Colonel General Alexander Chayko, commander of Russia’s Aerospace Forces, was dining at the restaurant during the explosion. These claims have not been independently verified, and Russian law enforcement has not addressed whether senior military officials were present at the venue.