Italy Rejects Claim Moscow Blast Was Meant to Intimidate Italians

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani dismissed Russia’s claim that the deadly explosion at an Italian restaurant in Moscow was intended to intimidate Italians, calling the allegation “a colossal lie.”According to the Italian outlet Ansa, speaking at the Caffè de La Versiliana event in Marina di Pietrasanta on Monday, Tajani responded to comments made by Russia’s ambassador to Italy, who suggested the attack had been aimed at intimidating Italian citizens.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“It is a colossal lie,” Tajani said. “Why would Ukrainians want to intimidate Italians if our country stands alongside Kyiv?”Tajani’s comments follow Saturday’s explosion at the Balzi Rossi restaurant in central Moscow, which killed five people and injured 21 others.According to Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee, a woman carrying an improvised explosive device attempted to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard. Both were killed in the blast, along with three other people, with Russian authorities launching a terrorism investigation into the incident.Russian media reported that the restaurant was hosting a birthday celebration for a Russian general when the explosion occurred, although authorities have not officially identified the intended target.Italy reaffirms support for UkraineRejecting Moscow’s narrative, Tajani stressed that Italy remains firmly committed to supporting Ukraine against Russia’s full-scale invasion. Other Topics of Interest Drone Falls Near ‘Putin’s Palace’ in Russia, Killing Four People Four people, including a child, were killed after a drone fell on a crowded beach near Gelendzhik, reportedly following an interception by a Russian mobile fire group. His remarks came after the Russian ambassador to Rome suggested the bombing was intended to intimidate Italians, a claim the Italian foreign minister said lacked any logical basis given Rome’s longstanding political and military support for Kyiv.Chaiko victimsRussian outlet Verstka reported that Maria Chaiko, the 25-year-old daughter of Russian Aerospace Forces Commander Aleksandr Chaiko, was among those injured in the explosion.According to the report, her husband, Danylo Peredriy, 27, is believed to have been killed in the blast.Russian media have previously reported that the Balzi Rossi restaurant was hosting a birthday celebration for a senior Russian general when the explosion occurred.While authorities have not officially identified the intended target, several independent Russian outlets have suggested the event was linked to Aleksandr Chaiko, who commanded Russian forces during the occupation of Bucha in 2022. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.