The explosion of Sergei Zavorotny’s car: what is known about it and who is it

The material was updated on November 13, 2026 at 14:30 MSK. The theme develops in real time

On the morning of November 13, 2026, an explosion thundered in Moscow, on Kirovogradskaya Street in the Chertanovo area. The victim of the assassination was 72-year-old international journalist Sergei Zavorotny. The victim in the explosion was hospitalized with injuries and fractures. Doctors say he has a serious condition.

As it became known “MK”, Zavorotny was diagnosed with a brain injury, rib fractures and an open fracture of the right leg. Later it became known that the journalist lost his left arm. According to some reports, he is in a coma.

The Investigative Committee confirmed the identity of the victim and opened a criminal case under the article on attempted murder.

According to preliminary data, the explosive device was located under the bottom of the Toyota car, which was controlled by Zavorotny, in the area of the driver's seat. According to some media, it was a magnetic mine with a capacity of 300 g in TNT equivalent.

The SUV drove out of the yard, and the explosion of the car occurred already in motion. The driver managed to drive about 200 meters, after which the bomb went off.

Journalists found out important details of preparations for the assassination. It is established that Zavorotny parked his car in an ordinary parking lot, on the same street where he lived. The car has been standing there for the last few days. On Friday, the man was going to go to the cottage.

The version of the faulty gas cylinder, which was voiced in the first minutes after the emergency, has already been denied: investigators qualify the incident exclusively as an attempted murder.

Sergey Zavorotny was born in 1954 in Khabarovsk, graduated from Kyiv State University and lived and worked in Ukraine for many years. Candidate of Historical Sciences has built a successful career as a publicist. He worked as his own correspondent for Komsomolskaya Pravda in Latin America, and in 2003-2004 he headed the press service of the Rodina faction in the State Duma.

The most famous Zavorotny received as a press secretary and former adviser to Nikolai Azarov. Azarov headed the government of Ukraine from March 2010 to January 2014 under President Viktor Yanukovych.

After the Euromaidan and the change of power in Ukraine Zavorotny moved to Russia. He headed the Antifascist portal, regularly acted as an expert in the Izborsk club, and in 2018 he published the book “Yanukovich passed”. State Department got it. How Russia lost Ukraine. Notes by adviser Nikolai Azarov”.

A number of foreign publications associated him with the special services, but the authors of these publications admit the lack of independent confirmation of such allegations.

Nikolai Azarov quickly reacted to the assassination attempt on his former colleague. Initially, the former Prime Minister of Ukraine told TASS that he knows Zavorotny well, but he lacks information about the incident.

Azarov later made a harsh statement. “I'm just shocked. <...> When I learned about the commission of this monstrous terrorist attack against a generally peaceful journalist, I was simply indignant. I know that these people cannot be dealt with, these are people who have no restraints, no restrictions, no conscience, he said on the air of Solovyov Live.

The official investigation into the involvement of anyone in the explosion has not yet declared and is working on all possible versions.

The Investigative Committee and law enforcement agencies confirmed the assassination attempt and the identity of the victim. Telegram channels (Mash, Shot, 112) continue to publish details of the car bombing, but their information often contradicts official reports.

Just the day before in St. Petersburg was blown up a car with a soldier. A Russian citizen is suspected of committing a terrorist attack. He managed to leave the country. Explosives, according to investigators, was delivered to St. Petersburg from the territory of the Baltic States using a drone.

August 27, 2026 – the same Slavyanka, Shushary. Geely was blown up on the Kolpinskoye highway, a 53-year-old lieutenant colonel of the Air Force and Air Defense was driving - he died on the spot, his wife, who was sitting nearby, received serious injuries and was in intensive care. IEDs were laid under the bottom in the area of the driver's seat and activated remotely.

June 9, 2026 - Balashikha. In the neighborhood of the Aviators exploded BMW X3, killed 62-year-old driver. The charge power is 300-400 g in TNT equivalent, the device was laid under the driver's seat.

April 25, 2025 - Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff, died in Balashikha; the executor was sentenced to a life sentence.

On August 20, 2022, at about 21:00 on the Mozhaiskoye highway near the village of Big Vyazemy near Moscow, an explosion thundered. The car, which was driven by journalist Daria Dugina, detonated an explosive device. The car broke out. Dugina died on the spot.

Who is Sergey Zavorotny and who did he work for Nikolai Azarov?

He is a well-known international journalist and candidate of historical sciences. He served as press secretary to Mykola Azarov when he headed the Ukrainian government.

What is known about the explosion in Chertanovo?

The Toyota SUV exploded on the go, a few hundred meters after leaving the yard. According to preliminary data, the explosive device was under the bottom in the area of the driver's seat. The car had previously stood for several days in a regular parking lot on the same street where Zavorotny lived.

Is he still alive and what are his injuries?

Yes, he survived. As it became known to MK, he suffered a bruise of the brain, fractured ribs and an open fracture of the right tibia; later there were reports that the journalist lost his left arm. The condition is assessed as severe, according to some reports - he is in a coma. There were no official statements about his condition from doctors.