Evidence

Multiple independent outlets corroborate the core claim. On August 1, 2026, a bomb exploded outside/at the Balzi Rossi restaurant in central Moscow during what was reportedly a birthday celebration for Colonel General Alexander Chaiko, newly appointed commander-in-chief of Russia's Aerospace Forces (turning 55, with a stage sign reading 'Alexander 55'). Reuters (via Moscow Times), Meduza, Euromaidan Press, The Daily Beast, and Ukranews (citing Vazhnye Istorii and Novaya Gazeta) all report the party link. Meduza specifically reported that Major General Valery Plokhotnyuk, buried August 5 at Troyekurovskoye Cemetery, was 'likely' killed in the blast, based on VChK-OGPU's report plus independent confirmation by Mediazona and Agentstvo via Russian state registries showing his personal documents were invalidated on August 1, the day of the blast. Chaiko's son-in-law Daniil Peredriy was also confirmed dead via state registries. No official Russian confirmation names victims, and VChK-OGPU itself acknowledged uncertainty about whether the buried general was actually present at the restaurant.