Pakistan, April 25 -- A powerful car bomb explosion killed Russian General-Lieutenant Yaroslav Moskalik near Moscow, authorities confirmed on Friday. The blast destroyed a parked Volkswagen Golf in Balashikha, a town east of the capital, leading investigators to launch a murder and explosives smuggling probe.

Moskalik, who served as the deputy head of the General Staff's main operational directorate, was known for his role in Ukraine peace talks in 2015. The explosion, captured on security footage, showed a person walking near the vehicle just before it exploded. Investigators said the device was packed with metal fragments to maximize destruction.

Reports revealed the car was not registered to the general, although he lived nearby. The...