Explosion at Moscow restaurant kills at least three, dozens injured

At a restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square in Moscow, an explosion killed at least three people and injured 21, investigators and official statements said after emergency services cleared the scene on Sunday.

Police had surrounded the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant on Saturday night with heavily armed officers and ambulances parked outside; by Sunday the cordon had been lifted and investigators departed the site.

Russian authorities reported that the National Anti-Terrorism Committee believes a woman carrying an improvised explosive device attempted to enter the restaurant and was stopped by a security guard before the device detonated. State media said the woman may have been acting as a courier delivering a parcel to a private function, though details about the guest list and potential targets remain unconfirmed.

The Russian Embassy in Italy issued a statement on Sunday blaming Ukraine for the attack and saying the perpetrators sought to frighten Italians working in Russia; the Kremlin had not commented publicly by the time authorities left the scene.

Witnesses described damage at the restaurant, including a shattered window and pock-marked walls, and nearby residents reported hearing the explosion. Some locals linked the blast to the war in Ukraine, while others expressed anger toward Western countries; journalists at the scene said the incident received minimal coverage on Russian television over the weekend.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

Official accounts indicate an attempted entry into a private dinner by a woman carrying an improvised explosive device, prevented by a security guard, followed by a detonation that resulted in multiple casualties. State agencies and the embassy attributed responsibility externally, while details about attendees and motive were not confirmed publicly. Media coverage on domestic television was limited in the immediate aftermath, according to reporters at the scene.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• Explosion occurred at Balzi Rossi restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square in Moscow, killing at least three and injuring 21.
• Authorities say a woman with an improvised explosive device was stopped by a security guard before the device detonated.
• The Russian Embassy in Italy blamed Ukraine; no official Kremlin comment or confirmed guest list was released.