Three people died and fifteen were injured when an explosion tore through a summer cafe on Kudrinskaya Square in central Moscow on August 1, 2026, according to the Moscow Main Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (GU MVD Moskvy).

The blast hit near building 1 on Kudrinskaya Square, a prominent spot in the heart of the capital. Fifteen people suffered injuries of varying severity, per the same GU MVD Moskvy account (RIA Novosti; Crimea.ria). Russia's Investigative Committee (SK), the country's main federal body for probing serious crimes, stated that the exact number of dead and injured is still being clarified (SK press service). That means the casualty numbers may change as the investigation continues.

A different, higher number has come from the SK's Moscow directorate, which said 39 people were hospitalized with injuries from the explosion (SK Moscow). The gap between 15 injured (from the police) and 39 hospitalized (from the SK) may come down to different ways of counting — everyone hurt at the scene versus those later admitted to hospitals. It could also simply reflect an incident that is still unfolding. The SK said the numbers are being verified, so the picture is not yet final.

According to the investigation's current version, gas cylinders exploded in the incident (SK Moscow). Gas cylinders are pressurized metal tanks used to store cooking fuel. If they are damaged or mishandled, they can release flammable gas that ignites with enormous force. This early finding points to a safety failure rather than a deliberate attack, though the investigation is still in its early stages.

The SK for Moscow has opened a criminal case under Article 109 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which covers causing death by negligence — meaning someone's carelessness led to fatalities — in connection with the explosion in the restaurant (SK Moscow). The choice of this charge, rather than one related to terrorism or intentional harm, tells us investigators are treating the blast as a case of criminal negligence, not an act of violence.

Investigators detained the general director of LLC "Kasabella," Surena Mkrtchyan, after questioning him as part of the criminal case (SK Moscow press service). Kasabella appears to be the company that ran the summer cafe where the blast occurred, making Mkrtchyan the first person held responsible as the investigation identifies who was in charge of safety at the premises.

An assistant to Russia's Minister of Health confirmed that injured people from the explosion are receiving all necessary medical assistance (Ministry of Health). This is a standard assurance in such incidents, but it carries extra weight here given how many people ended up in the hospital.

The broader context is that gas-cylinder explosions in restaurants and cafes have been a recurring safety problem in Russian cities. Seasonal "summer cafe" setups — temporary outdoor eating areas — may not meet the same construction and safety standards as permanent buildings. The decision to charge under Article 109 and the quick arrest of the cafe company's director follow a familiar pattern in Russia, where investigators move fast to pin individual criminal blame in high-profile fatal incidents. Whether the investigation will extend beyond Mkrtchyan to officials or agencies responsible for inspecting and permitting the Kudrinskaya Square site is still an open question.

Kudrinskaya Square sits where several major roads meet in central Moscow, near the landmark Kudrinskaya Square Tower, one of the Seven Sisters skyscrapers built under Stalin. An incident causing multiple casualties in such a prominent location carries political sensitivity. The involvement of the police, the Investigative Committee, and the Ministry of Health reflects the large, multi-agency response that an event like this requires within Russia's security system.

The key things to watch are whether the casualty numbers settle at 15 injured or 39 hospitalized, whether the gas-cylinder explanation is confirmed by forensic testing, and whether more people beyond Mkrtchyan face charges as the investigation traces the chain of responsibility for safety at the Kasabella-operated cafe.