An explosion in the center of the Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk claimed the life of Manolis Pilavov, a former top official, on Thursday, according to local Moscow-installed authorities.
Leonid Pasechnik, the Kremlin-backed head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, confirmed Pilavov’s death in a statement posted on Telegram. “Today, as a result of a vile attack in the centre of Lugansk, the former head of the administration of our regional capital, Manolis Pilavov, was killed,” he said, describing the incident as a targeted assassination. Pilavov had served as the city’s administrator for nine years.
The explosion also wounded three other individuals, with one person reported to be in serious condition, according to local authorities.
While Pasechnik condemned the killing and vowed a thorough investigation, Kyiv has yet to issue any official comment on the incident. However, the blast follows a growing pattern of targeted assassinations and explosions both in occupied territories and within Russia that have been either claimed by or attributed to Ukraine’s security services during Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Lugansk has been under the control of pro-Russian separatists. The region, along with Donetsk, has been at the heart of Moscow’s justification for its ongoing military campaign, which began in February 2022 and has now extended for nearly three and a half years.
Analysts see the killing as part of a broader effort by Ukraine to destabilize the Russian-installed administrations in occupied territories through covert operations. While Ukraine rarely confirms such attacks, many have been linked to its intelligence services as part of its asymmetric warfare strategy.
The targeting of Pilavov, a key figure in the Lugansk administration for nearly a decade, underscores the deepening insecurity in Russian-held regions. As the war grinds on with no diplomatic resolution in sight, the conflict appears to be entering a phase marked by increased sabotage and high-profile assassinations.
