Ukrainian drones struck another facility belonging to Russian retail giant Wildberries on Sunday, as Kyiv continued to target the country’s largest online retailer.
The strike on a warehouse in the Samara region caused a fire, but no casualties, regional governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said.
The warehouse lies about 800km (500 miles) from Ukraine’s most advanced military positions.
The latest attack came as cross-border drone strikes intensified, with Ukrainian attacks killing at least nine people in Russia and Russian strikes killing at least five in Ukraine, according to officials in both countries.
Kyiv has attacked about a dozen Wildberries sites since 18 July in a bid to disrupt the operations of the company, a linchpin of the consumer economy that Kyiv says helps bolster Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
Russia’s defence ministry said it downed 635 Ukrainian drones during the night. Moscow does not typically reveal the total number of projectiles fired by Ukraine.
Key Points
- Ukraine targets Wildberries again
- Crew of Iranian ship hit in Ukrainian attack returns home
- Russia says it struck Ukrainian port infrastructure
- Death toll of Moscow restaurant explosion rises to five
Man arrested after shooting injures four Ukrainian military recruitment officers in Odesa
06:02 , Maroosha Muzaffar
A 32-year-old man was arrested after allegedly opening fire on military recruitment officers in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa on Sunday, injuring four people, police said.
The suspect was detained at the scene and his pistol was seized, while authorities launched an investigation into the shooting.
The incident occurred during a mobilisation operation and is the latest in a series of attacks targeting Ukraine’s Territorial Recruitment Centres (TCCs).
Police say attacks on enlistment officers have risen sharply since Russia’s full-scale invasion, with 118 incidents recorded in the first four months of 2026 alone, according to The Kyiv Independent.
EU naval mission boards a sanctioned Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker in the Mediterranean
05:42 , Maroosha Muzaffar
An EU naval mission led by Italy boarded a sanctioned Russian “shadow fleet” tanker in the Mediterranean on Sunday, the second such operation in less than two weeks as Europe increases efforts to stop Moscow from evading oil sanctions.
Italy’s defence ministry said the tanker, Toa Payoh, was intercepted west of the Sicilian island of Pantelleria while sailing from Benin to Istanbul.
The ship, which switched to a Cameroonian registry last week, was boarded after its captain initially refused to provide documents.
Italian forces, backed by a Greek naval vessel and a Polish patrol aircraft, inspected the tanker to verify its identity, according to The Kyiv Independent.
“I wish to commend the crew of the Thaon di Revel and all military personnel involved in the operation for the professionalism, preparedness, and resolve they demonstrated,” Italian defense minister Guido Crosetto said.
“This activity serves as further concrete evidence of Italy's contribution to security in the Mediterranean and to the European Union’s efforts.”
One killed and 31 injured in Russian attack on residential building in Zaporizhzia
05:10 , Maroosha Muzaffar
A Russian daytime glide bomb struck a multi-storey apartment building in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Sunday, killing at least one woman and injuring 31 others, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov.
Rescue teams were searching the partially collapsed building for survivors, while authorities also reported damage elsewhere in the city.
Located about 20km (12 miles) from the front line, Zaporizhzhia has come under frequent Russian bombardment throughout the war due to its proximity to the fighting.
Ukraine targets Wildberries again
04:53 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Ukrainian drones struck another facility belonging to Russian retail giant Wildberries on Sunday, hitting a warehouse in the Samara region as Kyiv continued a campaign targeting the country’s largest online retailer.
The strike caused a fire, but no casualties, regional governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said.
The warehouse lies about 800km (500 miles) from Ukraine’s most advanced military positions.
The latest attack came as cross-border drone strikes intensified, with Ukrainian attacks killing at least nine people in Russia and Russian strikes killing at least five in Ukraine, according to officials in both countries.
Ukrainian forces have targeted around a dozen Wildberries facilities since 18 July in what appears to be an effort to disrupt the operations of the company, a cornerstone of Russia’s consumer economy that is often described as the country’s equivalent of Amazon.
Crew of Iranian ship hit in Ukrainian attack returns home
03:58 , Arpan Rai
The crew of an Iranian commercial ship that was hit in a Ukrainian attack and the body of a sailor killed in the incident have returned to Iran, according to Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency in a report on Sunday.
Iran said an attack in the Caspian Sea in late July resulted in an explosion that killed one sailor and injured another.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi had vowed that the Ukrainian attack on an Iranian commercial vessel "cannot go unanswered".
‘I can live without fear for the first time’: Inside the camp in Italy helping Ukraine’s traumatised children
03:00 , Alex Croft
The thunderous explosions of Russian Grad rocket launchers, staccato blasts of approaching gunfire, and the screeching whirr of air raid sirens have been the soundtrack to Yevhen and Vlad’s childhoods during four years of war in Ukraine.
Both teenagers have suffered immensely as a result of Russia’s invasion, recalling to The Independent their grim personal anecdotes including a civilian minibus torn to shreds by Russian gunfire, the kidnapping of family members, and the destruction of their home towns.
Now, for the first time since 2022, the 17-year-olds no longer need fear the sound of a passing aircraft, tucked safely away in the Italian coastal town of Lignano Pineta alongside 30 others, for a camp aimed at alleviating the psychological toll of war for Ukrainian children.
Read more here:
Ukraine’s traumatised children in holiday camp dread return to brutal reality of war
Russia says it struck Ukrainian port infrastructure
01:29 , Alex Croft
Russia's Defence Ministry said on Sunday its forces had struck infrastructure and two vessels with military cargo in Ukraine's port of Mykolaiv.
Moscow’s forces also hit a vessel carrying military supplies in the Black sea, it added.
We’re working to bring you more on the attacks.
Ukrainian drones kill eight in Russia and strike Wildberries warehouse
Monday 3 August 2026 00:00 , Holly Evans
Ukrainian drone strikes killed at least eight people in Russian regions overnight and on Sunday, hitting targets including a warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, regional officials said.
Russia's Defence Ministry said it had downed 635 Ukrainian drones during the night.
Kyiv's drones attacked a Wildberries warehouse in the Samara region, around 800 km (500 miles) from Ukraine's most advanced military positions, Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said. He said there were no casualties and that a fire that had broken out as a result of the attack was being put out.
Ukrainian forces have been striking deeper inside Russia as they expand strikes on economic and energy targets, hoping to undermine Moscow's ability to wage its more than four-year-old war in Ukraine.
At least eight killed in mass Ukrainian drone attack on Russia
Sunday 2 August 2026 23:19 , Alex Croft
At least eight people in Russian regions overnight and on Sunday, after Kyiv launched at least 635 drones in a mass attack.
Among the targets was a warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, regional officials said.
Russia's Defence Ministry said it downed 635 Ukrainian drones during the night. Moscow does not typically reveal the total number of projectiles fired by Ukraine.
The acting governor of Russia's border region of Belgorod, Alexander Shuvayev, said a Ukrainian drone struck an area next to a playground, killing one child and injuring two.
Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights, was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that the strike was "another inhumane terrorist act" by Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ukraine's drones attacked a Wildberries warehouse in the Samara region, around 800 km (500 miles) from Ukraine's most advanced military positions, Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said. Fedorishchev said there were no casualties and that a fire that broke out as a result of the attack was being put out.
Death toll of Moscow restaurant explosion rises to five
Sunday 2 August 2026 23:04 , Alex Croft
Russian authorities have increased the death toll of the explosion in Moscow’s Balzi Rossi restaurant to five.
Two people died in hospital following the explosion, Radio Liberty’s Russian Service said according to Ukrainska Pravda, after three deaths had originally been reported by Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
Another six people are in a serious condition, it said.
As millions jet off on holiday, meet the men choosing to go to a warzone with total strangers
Sunday 2 August 2026 23:00 , Holly Evans
t’s hard to travel off the beaten track any more. Thanks to social media, no site is unseen, no viewpoint unphotographed, and no hidden gem concealed for long. According to the World Tourism Barometer, this is pushing more of us to holiday further afield – Brazil, Curaçao and Uzbekistan saw some of the largest increases in visitor numbers last year.
But some are willing to take things further than others. For four years, one group has seen plenty of new sights – by driving into an active warzone.
Ukrainian Action, a charity set up after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, has just sent its 500th vehicle full of aid and equipment across Europe to support Ukrainians in need on and off the front line. With Russian airstrikes actively targeting ordinary homes, civilian businesses, and infrastructure facilities with ballistic missiles and drones, killing at least 26 people, including four children, in separate attacks this week, Ukraine is a highly volatile place to be.
Read the full article here:
As millions jet off on holiday, meet the men going to a warzone with total strangers
Zelensky asks for Trump’s help to win Elon Musk’s approval for Starlink drones plan
Sunday 2 August 2026 22:00 , Holly Evans
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Donald Trump and other American officials to facilitate Ukraine's access to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communications system for guiding strikes within Russian territory.
This push for expanded Starlink capabilities emerges as Kyiv seeks alternative strategies to reduce its reliance on US Patriot air defence systems, crucial for countering Russia's relentless missile and drone assaults.
The availability of these interceptors is dwindling amid the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran, with Mr Trump reportedly stepping back from a recent pledge to grant Ukraine a licence for their production.
Read the full article here:
Zelensky asks Trump to help Elon Musk approve Starlink drones plan
Drone fragments fell in Romanian territory near Ukraine border
Sunday 2 August 2026 21:00 , Holly Evans
Fragments of a drone shot down by Ukraine near its Danube river border fell on Romanian national territory on a farm field near the village of Periprava without causing any damage, Romania's Defence Ministry said on Sunday.
The drone had previously spent 20 minutes in Romanian air space before flying into Ukraine, the ministry said without specifying its origin. Romanian F-16 fighter jets shot down three Russian drones breaching national airspace over three consecutive days in late July.
What is Wildberries?
Sunday 2 August 2026 20:00 , Holly Evans
In recent weeks, Ukraine has been turning its attention to attacking large warehouses owned by Wildberries.
Wildberries is Russia's largest online marketplace. It has been called the country's equivalent of Amazon, as its business model resembles a mix of Amazon Marketplace, eBay, and Temu.
Founded in 2004 by Tatyana Kim, who is now Russia's richest woman, the company has since become the dominant e-commerce platform in Russia and several neighbouring countries.
Hosting millions of third-party sellers, the platform sells almost everything, from electronics to groceries. The marketplace features clothes, books, cosmetics, toys, appliances, household items, sports gear and much more. There’s an “E-Pharmacy” page and a travel section for booking plane tickets or hotels.
It operates a vast network of warehouses, sorting centres, and logistics hubs across Russia.
In 2021, Kim acquired a small bank and turned it into what now is Wildberries Bank, but that institution has since come under sanctions by the U.K. and the European Union.
Now, its facilities are being deliberately targeted by Ukrainian drones.
Moscow attack occurred after Russia tightens security around top officials
Sunday 2 August 2026 19:00 , Holly Evans
Earlier this year, Russia's Federal Security Service announced that authorities would tighten security around senior military and government officials, after a series of assassination attempts in Russian cities that followed the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
So far, Russian authorities have not drawn any connections between Saturday's blast and these earlier attacks or the war in Ukraine.
Russia previously said Kyiv was behind a car bombing in Moscow last April that killed Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the main operational department in Russia's General Staff.
Ukraine did not publicly claim responsibility.
But Ukraine's SBU security service earlier said it had organized the killing in December 2024 of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who headed the Russian military's nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces.
Kirillov was killed by a bomb hidden in a scooter outside his apartment building in Moscow, a day after Ukraine's security service leveled criminal charges against him.
Why is Ukraine attacking ships in the Caspian Sea?
Sunday 2 August 2026 18:00 , Holly Evans
Ukraine officials have claimed the Iranian vessel was carrying components for drones and missiles from Iran to Russia, but Tehran claimed the vessel was “entirely civilian” and was carrying “no military cargo”.
Iran is a major supplier of weapons to Russia with its Shahed drones. In August 2024, Ukraine attacked a cargo vessel in the Caspian Sea, destroying a ship reportedly loaded with Shahed-136 drone components and Iranian munitions.
But former British army officer and weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon believes that Ukraine’s most recent attack on the Caspian Sea is a “message to Trump” first and foremost.
He argued that by executing an attack around 500 miles away from Kyiv, Ukraine is demonstrating its capability and showing the US president how it can help take on Iran.
He told The Independent: “Ukraine is trying to show Trump that the Russians are helping Iran out. Ukraine is demonstrating that they can prevent that and help with Trump’s Iran problem, but the US needs to help Ukraine in return.”
Inside the camp in Italy helping Ukraine’s traumatised children
Sunday 2 August 2026 17:00 , Holly Evans
The thunderous explosions of Russian Grad rocket launchers, staccato blasts of approaching gunfire, and the screeching whirr of air raid sirens have been the soundtrack to Yevhen and Vlad’s childhoods during four years of war in Ukraine.
Both teenagers have suffered immensely as a result of Russia’s invasion, recalling to The Independent their grim personal anecdotes including a civilian minibus torn to shreds by Russian gunfire, the kidnapping of family members, and the destruction of their home towns.
Now, for the first time since 2022, the 17-year-olds no longer need fear the sound of a passing aircraft, tucked safely away in the Italian coastal town of Lignano Pineta alongside 30 others, for a camp aimed at alleviating the psychological toll of war for Ukrainian children.
Read the full article here:
Ukraine’s traumatised children in holiday camp dread return to brutal reality of war
Italian-led EU force boards sanctioned tanker from Russia's 'shadow fleet' in Mediterranean
Sunday 2 August 2026 16:00 , Holly Evans
An EU mission led by Italy boarded a tanker belonging to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" on Sunday to verify its nationality and flag registration, Italy's Defence Ministry said.
It was not immediately clear whether the vessel had been detained while the checks were carried out.
The ministry said the Toa Payoh, a tanker under EU sanctions that was sailing under the flag of Cameroon, had been intercepted in the Mediterranean, west of the Italian island of Pantelleria, while travelling from Benin to Istanbul.
The ship's captain initially failed to cooperate, prompting a team of Italian military personnel to board the vessel from a helicopter launched by the Thaon di Revel, flagship of the EU's EUNAVFOR MED Irini operation.
The inspection, carried out with the support of a Greek vessel and a Polish maritime patrol aircraft, lasted about two hours and was completed safely, the ministry said.
Italian authorities were examining documentation obtained during the inspection.
Mapped: Where is the current Ukraine frontline?
Sunday 2 August 2026 15:00 , Holly Evans
Watch: At least 3 dead after IED explodes near Moscow cafe
Sunday 2 August 2026 14:00 , Holly Evans
Zelensky asks for Trump’s help to win Elon Musk’s approval for Starlink drones plan
Sunday 2 August 2026 13:00 , Holly Evans
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Donald Trump and other American officials to facilitate Ukraine's access to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communications system for guiding strikes within Russian territory.
This push for expanded Starlink capabilities emerges as Kyiv seeks alternative strategies to reduce its reliance on US Patriot air defence systems, crucial for countering Russia's relentless missile and drone assaults.
The availability of these interceptors is dwindling amid the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran, with Mr Trump reportedly stepping back from a recent pledge to grant Ukraine a licence for their production.
Read the full article here:
Zelensky asks Trump to help Elon Musk approve Starlink drones plan
Moscow mayor calls Saturday's deadly bomb attack on restaurant a 'terrorist act'
Sunday 2 August 2026 12:21 , Holly Evans
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin called the bomb attack on a restaurant in the capital a "brutal terrorist act," but did not say who was responsible.
"Yesterday, a brutal terrorist act was committed in Moscow that claimed human lives. The victims are currently in the city's hospitals, where they are receiving all necessary care," Sobyanin wrote on social media.
The blast on Saturday evening killed a security guard and a guest, as well as the woman bomber, Russian state media said, citing local officials.
At least 21 people were also wounded when the explosive device detonated at the restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square in central Moscow, the National Anti-Terrorism Committee said, quoted by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
The attack was still being investigated, the Moscow Investigative Committee told the news agency on Saturday evening.
As of early afternoon on Sunday, there was no further information from Russian authorities, and no one had publicly claimed responsibility.
Watch: ‘Scared’ British tourist in Poland films moment air raid sirens sound during Russian strikes in Ukraine
Sunday 2 August 2026 12:00 , Holly Evans
Why Ukraine is targeting Russia’s ‘Amazon’ Wildberries with major strikes
Sunday 2 August 2026 11:00 , Holly Evans
Ukraine launched a wave of drone strikes deep into Russia this week, hitting a major logistics hub belonging to e-commerce Wildberries in the Ryazan region.
Ukrainian drones struck two more warehouses belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries overnight on Thursday, sparking fires at both sites, the company and a regional official said.
Ukraine has attacked about a dozen Wildberries sites since July 18 in a bid to disrupt the operations of the company, a linchpin of the consumer economy that is often described as Russia's answer to Amazon. Kyiv accused the firm of helping to bolster Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
Read the full analysis here:
Why Ukraine is targeting Russia’s ‘Amazon’ Wildberries with major strikes
Zelensky calls for US and Europe to approve Patriot missiles package
Sunday 2 August 2026 10:00 , Holly Evans
Volodymyr Zelensky has called for anti-ballistic missiles to be given to Ukraine instead of sitting “in stockpiles”.
The Ukrainian president has issued his plea to Europe and the United States, as he requests further sanctions to stop Russia from producing ballistic weapons.
In a post on social media, he said: “The world has Patriot missiles. What matters now is for our partners to make the political decision to provide the necessary packages.
“The United States knows what we need. Europe knows what we need. Anti-ballistic missiles must protect people – not sit in stockpiles. And every day without this vital assistance gives Russia another chance to kill our people.
:And right now, the response must also include additional and real sanctions.”
Of course, we see every leader and every country that responds to Russia’s strikes on Ukraine. But the only strong and just response – the one that truly achieves its goal and helps people – is additional support for our state. The world has Patriot missiles. What matters now is… pic.twitter.com/tt5OlKTM5K
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 1, 2026
Ripped from their families and shipped to Russia: The tragic story of Ukraine’s children
Sunday 2 August 2026 09:00 , Holly Evans
Sofia is an 11-year-old Ukrainian girl with scars on her face and light brown hair in a ponytail. She recalls vividly what happened when Russian troops entered her village.
“They took the 16-year-old girls to their place,” she recounts tearfully. “When the girls came back, their clothes were torn. Everything was torn. The Russians behaved badly with those girls.
“Everyone was panicking. We didn’t know what to do, where to go. The Russians came to my house. They checked my toys, my hairpins, and my clothes… They threatened my parents. They had weapons. If you say anything, they might kill you.”
Read the full article here:
Ripped from their families and sent to Russia: The tragic story of Ukraine’s children
Ukraine says it struck oil refinery and air base in Russia's Saratov region
Sunday 2 August 2026 08:52 , Holly Evans
Ukrainian forces have attacked the Saratov oil refinery in southwestern Russia and the Engels military air base in the same region, Kyiv's military said on Sunday.
In a statement, the General Staff said the strikes had sparked fires at both facilities. It said its forces had also struck an oil depot in the western Kaluga region.
Explosion in Moscow restaurant caused by an IED
Sunday 2 August 2026 08:00 , Holly Evans
The explosion was caused by an IED which was detonated remotely, Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee has said.
Three people were killed and 21 otheres were injured after an "improvised explosive device" exploded at a restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square, one of the seven skyscraper towers built by Stalin.
It said the three people who died were:
- A security guard who stopped the unidentified woman from entering the building with the explosive device
- the woman
- a visitor
The Russian newspaper Kommersant said it was likely the woman was unaware of the contents of the parcel.
Quoting its own sources, Kommersant said the targets were guests on the restaurant's outdoor summer terrace.
As millions jet off on holiday, meet the men choosing to go to a warzone with total strangers
Sunday 2 August 2026 07:23 , Holly Evans
It’s hard to travel off the beaten track any more. Thanks to social media, no site is unseen, no viewpoint unphotographed, and no hidden gem concealed for long. According to the World Tourism Barometer, this is pushing more of us to holiday further afield – Brazil, Curaçao and Uzbekistan saw some of the largest increases in visitor numbers last year.
But some are willing to take things further than others. For four years, one group has seen plenty of new sights – by driving into an active warzone.
Ukrainian Action, a charity set up after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, has just sent its 500th vehicle full of aid and equipment across Europe to support Ukrainians in need on and off the front line. With Russian airstrikes actively targeting ordinary homes, civilian businesses, and infrastructure facilities with ballistic missiles and drones, killing at least 26 people, including four children, in separate attacks this week, Ukraine is a highly volatile place to be.
Read the full article here:
As millions jet off on holiday, meet the men going to a warzone with total strangers
Pictures: Cleanup and rescue operations completed in Kyiv after Russian attack
Sunday 2 August 2026 06:45 , Shweta Sharma
Emergency services in Kyiv have completed rescue and recovery operations following Russia's attack overnight into Saturday, with officials confirming that nine people were killed and 33 others injured.
A total of 206 emergency personnel and 42 pieces of equipment were deployed to respond to the aftermath of the strike.
Russia fired a record number of missiles at Ukraine in July
Sunday 2 August 2026 06:20 , Shweta Sharma
Russia fired a record 376 missiles at Ukraine in July, according to an AFP analysis of Ukrainian air force data.
According to reports published by Kyiv’s air force, Russia has launched more than twice the number of missiles at Ukraine in July than in June.
A significant number of these attacks targeted Kyiv, which saw some of the deadliest strikes.
Russia also fired 4,956 long-range drones at Ukraine during the month, down 14 per cent on June.
Moscow attack that killed three in pictures
Sunday 2 August 2026 05:50 , Shweta Sharma
Pictures showed emergency services and heavily armed security personnel surrounding the blast site outside the Balzi Rossi restaurant in central Moscow.
Three people were killed and at least 21 injured after a bomb exploded outside an upscale Italian restaurant on Saturday evening.
Ukraine says it struck Russian container ship in Black Sea
Sunday 2 August 2026 05:30 , Shweta Sharma
Ukraine struck a sanctioned Russian-flagged container ship in the Black Sea, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.
The vessel, Yanina, has a capacity of more than 100,000 metric tonnes and was targeted during Ukrainian operations in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov using domestically produced "middle-strike" weapons, Zelensky said.
"Our targets are consistently defined facilities that sustain the war effort," he wrote, adding: "Grateful to Ukrainian warriors who are bringing the war back to Russia and responding to its attacks against life."
Grateful to Ukrainian warriors who are bringing the war back to Russia and responding to its attacks against life. Our targets are consistently defined facilities that sustain the war effort.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 1, 2026
Middle strikes were carried out overnight, with successful hits in the Black Sea and… pic.twitter.com/B4q8HMVl0j
Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom confirmed the strike, saying the ship was hit by two Ukrainian naval drones in international waters about 130 nautical miles from the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev said all 17 crew members were rescued.
How the Moscow restaurant attack unfolded
Sunday 2 August 2026 05:21 , Shweta Sharma
A bomb explosion near an upscale Italian restaurant in central Moscow killed three people and injured at least 21 on Saturday evening in what Russian authorities described as a terrorist attack.
The blast occurred shortly before 8pm local time outside the Balzi Rossi restaurant at Kudrinskaya Square, one of Moscow's landmark Stalin-era skyscrapers.
Russia's Anti-Terrorism Committee said an unidentified woman attempted to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard. Moments later, the explosive device she was carrying detonated.
The woman, the security guard and a restaurant customer were killed in the explosion, while at least 21 others suffered injuries of varying severity, according to police.
State news agency RIA Novosti published footage showing heavily armed security forces securing the area after the blast. Authorities cordoned off the scene and launched an investigation but did not identify the victims or say who they believed was behind the attack.
Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing unnamed sources, reported that investigators believe the bomb was intended to target guests seated on the restaurant's outdoor terrace. The newspaper said the device may have been detonated remotely and that the woman carrying it may not have known it contained explosives. These reports have not been independently verified.
