Explosion in Moscow Region kills senior Russian military officer PHOTO/VIDEO

A deadly explosion occurred in the Moscow region's Balashikha today, claiming the life of a senior Russian military official.

According to emergency services, the explosion was caused by a gas cylinder in a car that had caught fire. A source told TASS that one person was killed in the blast.

The regional branch of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed to TASS that the explosion occurred during the fire. Authorities have since identified the victim as Yaroslav Moskalik, the Deputy Head of the Main Operations Directorate of the Russian General Staff.

The Investigative Committee of Russia (SKR) has classified the explosion, which led to General Moskalik's death, as murder. 

By Vugar Khalilov