Overview

• The May 30 explosion in Stawropol killed 33-year-old Saur Gurzijew and another man, Nikita Penkow, during a meeting outside a residential building.
• Governor Wladimir Wladimirow confirmed the fatalities and said investigators are considering multiple scenarios, including a terror attack orchestrated by Ukrainian agents.
• Social media videos show a man approaching Gurzijew with a bag before a sudden flash, leading officials to probe a possible suicide bombing.
• A BBC report highlights that Penkow was a former Russian policeman with no known political or military ties, casting doubt on a direct Ukrainian role.
• Gurzijew’s death follows a series of mysterious killings of Kremlin-aligned figures, including General Jaroslaw Moskalik in April and nationalist Darja Dugina in 2022.