Russian general mysteriously disappears and is buried under Moscow

A high-ranking Russian general was reportedly killed in an explosion and given a secret funeral, according to new reports.

Russian Lieutenant General Igor Yerusalimov is believed to have died in an explosion at the Balzi Rossi restaurant on Aug 1, where the 55th birthday celebration of Alexander Chaiko, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Force, was taking place.

However, the cause of Yerusalimov’s death, as well as the day he died, has yet to be confirmed.

Ukrainiska Pravda reported Yerusalimov’s death, adding that the funeral was held in secret at the Troyekurovskoye Cemetery in Moscow. Officers of Russia’s Federal Protective Service were stationed at the ceremony, and visitors and vehicles were screened through checkpoints.

A Russian Telegram channel had posted that a funeral of “a certain major general” had occurred at the ceremony, and alluded to the deceased military personnel as someone who may have been killed in the explosion at the restaurant. They wrote that the deceased was a friend of Chaiko.

A send-off ceremony was held at the same address listed as his residence in leaked databases.

The Telegram post also stated that the lieutenant general’s funeral was scheduled for 5 August, according to the news outlet.

A ceremonial guard carrying the flag of the Russian Aerospace Forces was at the funeral service, and the flag was left at the grave site.

The Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee had said an unidentified woman had tried to bring an explosive to the restaurant disguised as a gift but was stopped by a security guard.

The woman, the security guard, and a guest died in the explosion, while 21 people were injured. It was also reported that Chaiko’s son-in-law, Danylo Peredrii, was among the deceased.

Yerusalimov had climbed the ranks in the Russian military service.

In 2020, he was the head of the operations directorate of the Western Military District headquarters.

By 2024, he became the first deputy chief of staff of the Moscow Military District.

He was promoted to major general a week before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

By May 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin promoted him to lieutenant general.