The founder of a pro-Russian militia group in eastern Ukraine, described by authorities in Kyiv as a “criminal mastermind”, has died following a bombing in central Moscow, according to Russian state media.

Armen Sarkisyan, a pro-Russian collaborator from Donetsk Oblast wanted by Ukraine, died in the hospital after being injured in an explosion in an elite residential complex in Moscow on Feb. 3, the state news agency TASS reported,

Armen Sarkisyan, the founder of a separatist battalion fighting in eastern Ukraine, died after an explosion in an apartment complex, according to reports citing the Russian authorities.

A suicide bombing in Moscow claimed the life of Armen Sarkisyan, leader of the 'Arbat' Battalion and Boxing Federation of the Donetsk People’s Republic.

According to the TASS source, the explosive device was previously planted in a sofa in the lobby of the entrance. When Sarkisyan went down to the first floor, the attackers detonated it. Experts estimated the power of the explosion at 400-500 grams of TNT equivalent, Kommersant writes.

Citing sources, the pro-state outlet Kommersant identified the victim as Armen Sarkisyan, a pro-Russian collaborator from Donetsk Oblast wanted by Ukraine. The injured victims reportedly include Sarkisyan's security guards.

A Ukrainian separatist wanted by Kyiv was killed in a “carefully planned” explosion at a luxury apartment block in north-west Moscow on Monday.

Armen Sarkisyan, the Moscow-backed collaborator from Ukraine's Donetsk region, died in hospital after being injured in an explosion in an elite residential complex in Moscow on Monday, according to Russian state-run outlets.

Armen Sargsyan, the leader of a pro-Russian paramilitary group in eastern Ukraine, died in a hospital after he was injured in an explosion in Moscow on Monday, Russian officials said.

Armen Sarkisian, a known mafia boss from east Ukraine, is the latest target in a string of explosions on Russian soil.