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Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee has confirmed that three individuals lost their lives in an explosion at a central Moscow restaurant on Saturday evening. The committee told state media that a woman attempted to bring an improvised explosive device into the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square but was prevented from entering by a security guard at the entrance. The device detonated at the entrance resulting in the deaths of the woman the guard and one patron while leaving 21 others injured according to figures released by the committee and reported by AP News.
The upscale establishment positioned in one of the city’s distinctive Stalin-era skyscrapers was hosting a private function at the time of the incident around 20:00 local time. Initial reports mistakenly placed the blast inside the kitchen but the restaurant stated there was a problem outside. Witnesses spoke of chaotic scenes with blood-covered victims being assisted from the premises as heavily armed officers arrived multiple international outlets reported from the location.
No details have been released about the identities of the deceased or any intended target for the attack the National Anti-Terrorism Committee said. As of Sunday no organisation had asserted responsibility for the bombing that disrupted a popular city square. The event prompted the immediate closure of surrounding roads and the cancellation of a scheduled group cycling ride that was assembling nearby.
This marks another violent episode in Moscow following a car bomb that killed a senior Russian general in southern districts of the capital during December 2025 CBS News documented in its contemporaneous coverage. A separate bombing near a major train station claimed the life of a police officer in February 2026 Al Jazeera stated at the time of that attack. Russian officials have repeatedly linked such incidents to Ukrainian intelligence activities assertions that Ukrainian authorities have rejected.
Emergency services mobilised swiftly to aid the injured and secure the area after the detonation according to coverage from ABC News. The National Anti-Terrorism Committee oversaw the initial response that included cordoning off the square and collecting evidence from the scene. Investigators are now focused on determining how the device was assembled and whether the woman acted alone or with accomplices.
Deutsche Welle noted that the incident has once again raised questions about security vulnerabilities in high-profile areas of the Russian capital amid ongoing regional conflicts. State news agency TASS distributed images and video showing law enforcement activity throughout the evening. The death toll and injury count have remained unchanged since the first official updates provided on Saturday night.
