The attack appeared to be the latest targeted assassination of senior military officials inside Russia’s borders.

A Russian general was killed Monday morning after an explosive device detonated underneath his car in Moscow, and investigators said Ukraine could be behind the attack, the third such killing of a senior military officer in a year.

Russia’s investigative committee says it is looking into whether Ukraine’s special services were behind the attack

Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday that an International Claims Commission for Ukraine launched by some European powers had no legal force for Russia and was driven by an attempt by European countries to spread propaganda against Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow won't attack other nations if its treated "with respect" and claimed he is "ready and willing" to end the Ukraine war "peacefully."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address on Wednesday that Russia is preparing "the coming year as a year of war," despite ongoing peace talks.

The European official said the man accused of coordinating a plot to put explosives in packages on cargo planes, for example, was recruited by Russian intelligence after involvement with smuggling guns and explosives. The man is linked to at least four other plots.