Russian pro-war bloggers are furious again: why are generals celebrating birthdays in the luxury restaurant Balzi Rossi, where soup costs six thousand roubles (€65)? And why is Russian intelligence unable to protect even the centre of its own capital?
The attack on Saturday (1 August), killing five people, has drawn attention to a divide in Russian public reaction to the war — between ordinary citizens and the political and military elite.
Although the results of an investigation are not yet known, Moscow unambiguously named Ukraine as the perpetrator.
It appears to be certain that the target of the bomb attack was general Aleksandr Chaiko, who was celebrating his fifty‑fifth birthday at the Balzi Rossi restaurant in central Moscow, about two and a half kms from the Kremlin – with his closest family, friends, colleagues, as well as politicians and senior government officials. Members of Russia’s Federal Security Service (RFB) and several generals were also meant to be seated at the general’s birthday table.
Map: Deník N
Russian investigative journalists managed to decipher several licence plates of cars parked by the restaurant and identify their owners.
Besides his birthday, Chaiko had another reason to celebrate: in May, he was appointed commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces, whose importance is growing by the day.
Russia is trying to put as many new Rassvet satellites (the equivalent of US Starlink satellites) into orbit as possible to enable precise guidance of drones to Ukrainian targets 24 hours a day. At present, coverage of Ukrainian territory is roughly two hours because of the small number of satellites, and the Russians have already begun to exploit this. One of General Chaiko’s tasks is to achieve round‑the‑clock coverage in the shortest possible time.
According to the limited reports available from official Russian sources, the general survived the attack. Five people were killed, including the bomber, and another six are in serious condition in hospital.
For the moment, Russian investigators believe that the bomb was detonated remotely, once the organisers of the attack understood that their “messenger” would not make it close enough to the target.
Судя по следам от поражающих элементов, взрыв произошел у входа в ресторан. Ну и внутри особо не видно разрушений.
The female bomber did try to bring a “gift” into the restaurant in a box, but it attracted the attention of a vigilant security guard watching the entrance to the private event. During the check, the object exploded.
Aleksandr Chaiko studied at the Suvorov Military School in Moscow, the Moscow Higher Military Command School, the Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Military Academy of the General Staff.
Since 2014 he has commanded the 1st Guards Tank Army.
From 2017 to 2021 he commanded Russian troops in Syria and at the same time served as deputy chief of the general staff of the Russian army. According to Human Rights Watch, he was responsible for strikes on civilian targets and for the death and injury of hundreds of Syrian civilians.
At the start of Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine he commanded the Eastern Military District. He was in charge of the attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv from the north. He is suspected of having allowed his subordinates to commit war crimes in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, with his knowledge.
In May this year he was appointed commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces. He is now responsible, among other things, for the space troops, strategic aviation and the entire air‑defence system of the Russian Federation.
On 16 March he was added to the European sanctions list.
The bomb, with a force equivalent to roughly one kg of TNT (trinitrotoluene, a chemical explosive), was packed with shrapnel – mainly metal pellets that mowed down everything within range.
Who was on the terrace
The second victim, referred to as Anatoly S., most likely saved the general’s life.
At first, reports spoke of an ordinary member of the restaurant’s security staff, but now information has appeared clarifying his identity as a trained bodyguard. He is reportedly exceptionally experienced – starting his career with the police and later moving into private security structures. His Lexus was parked right in front of the entrance.
Other people were injured because they were on the terrace, where the celebration was already in full swing. Three people died after being taken to the hospital.
According to a number of Russian opposition media outlets and some Z‑bloggers, Chaiko’s daughter, twenty‑five‑year‑old Mariya Peredriy, was hit by bomb fragments. She is reportedly severely injured.
Mariya does appear on the list of victims, including the injured, published by the pro‑government Ren TV and the Telegram account 112, which is linked to the security services. Next to her is also the name Daniil P., which, according to Russian journalists, is most likely the name of her husband. Her husband Daniil has been reported to be among the dead, although verifying this information is proving very slow because of the silence of official Russian bodies.
The condition of the presumed target of the attack, General Chaiko, remains unknown. Some Russian Telegram accounts, including ones that are typically loyal to the Kremlin, are calling for more information.
To read this story, log in or subscribe
Enjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives, comment and gift articles. Become a subscriber for as low as €1,75 per week.
Petra Procházková is a reporter at Deník N, the sister publication of EUobserver. She previously worked for Lidové noviny as their Moscow correspondent from 1992 to 2001, reported from wars in Asia and Africa, co-founded the Epicentrum agency with Jaromír Štětina, was expelled from Russia in 2001, and later reported from Afghanistan and the post-Soviet region.