Ukraine war latest: Ex-PM press secretary reportedly injured in Moscow car explosion

Former Ukrainian prime minister Mykola Azarov’s former press secretary, Sergei Zavorotny, was reportedly injured when his car exploded in Moscow on 13 November. Russian media said the blast may have involved an explosive device and that authorities are investigating the incident as attempted murder; the reports have not established who was responsible.

Zavorotny, 72, fled to Russia in 2014 and later voiced pro-Kremlin and anti-Ukrainian views. Separately, Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces commander said Russia’s offensive had slowed amid heavy casualties: the Ukrainian General Staff reported 54,400 Russian casualties in October, while the Institute for the Study of War assessed that Russian forces lost about 27 square kilometres of territory that month. The article also reports Ukrainian claims of regaining more than 800 square kilometres in two operations.