Former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu may have been the senior official allegedly targeted with an explosive device disguised as a flower vase at a Moscow cemetery, according to Russian media citing unnamed sources. Shoigu served as defense minister until May 2024 and now is secretary of Russia’s Security Council.
Reports claim the plot was linked to Troyekurovskoye Cemetery in Moscow and attributed to “saboteurs.” Journalists said they have not obtained additional details.
On November 14, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had thwarted an assassination attempt on a high-ranking official but did not identify the person. The agency alleged Ukrainian involvement without providing evidence and said Ukrainian services act under “Western supervision.”
According to the FSB, the device was disguised as a flower vase and was meant to detonate when the official visited relatives’ graves at Troyekurovskoye Cemetery. The agency also said the vase contained a camera “capable of transmitting video abroad.” Authorities detained two Russian citizens and a migrant from Central Asia; none has confessed to planning the attack.
Shoigu was removed as defense minister by President Vladimir Putin in May 2024 and appointed Security Council secretary. Since then, local reports have described a series of high-profile corruption scandals at the Defense Ministry. Those reports claim Shoigu’s network has been dismantled and that he could face prosecution. Some social media users have speculated that Putin dismissed Shoigu over the military’s lack of success in the war against Ukraine.
