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.

Russian security forces allege Ukraine's role behind the bomb blast in Moscow. Sarkisyan, a pro-Russian leader, was on the wanted list of Kyiv for a long time

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

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.

Russian authorities and news reports say an explosion in an upscale Moscow neighborhood killed two people, including the founder of a battalion that battled Kyiv's forces in eastern Ukraine.

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

A pro-Russian paramilitary leader from eastern Ukraine, Armen Sarkisyan, was killed on Monday when a bomb tore through parts of a luxury apartment block in Moscow, state news agency TASS and other Russian media reported.

Armen Sargsyan, the leader of a paramilitary unit wanted by Ukraine, died from his injuries following an explosion on Monday morning.