Three people died and fifteen were injured when an explosion ripped 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 struck near building 1 on Kudrinskaya Square, a well-known spot in the heart of the capital. Fifteen people sustained 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), meaning the casualty figures may shift as the investigation progresses.

A higher hospitalization figure of 39 has been reported by the Main Investigative Directorate of the SK for Moscow, which stated that 39 people were hospitalized with injuries from the explosion (SK Moscow). The gap between the MVD's 15 injured and the SK's 39 hospitalized likely reflects different counting methods — total injured on the scene versus those subsequently admitted for treatment — or simply the fluidity of an evolving incident. The SK's note that numbers are being verified indicates the picture is not yet final.

According to the investigation's current version, gas cylinders exploded in the incident (SK Moscow). This provisional finding frames the blast as an industrial-safety failure rather than a deliberate attack, though the investigation remains at an early stage.

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, in connection with the explosion in the restaurant (SK Moscow). The choice of Article 109 — rather than provisions related to terrorism or intentional harm — signals that investigators are currently treating the incident as criminal negligence leading to fatalities.

Investigators detained the general director of LLC "Kasabella," Surena Mkrtchyan, after an interrogation within the criminal case concerning the restaurant explosion (SK Moscow press service). Kasabella appears to be the legal entity operating the summer cafe where the blast occurred, making Mkrtchyan the first individual held to account as the investigation identifies those responsible for safety oversight 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), a standard assurance in such incidents but one that carries particular weight given the number of hospitalized casualties.

The broader context here is that gas-cylinder explosions in commercial hospitality venues have been a recurring safety issue in Russian cities, particularly at seasonal "summer cafe" installations that may not meet the same construction and safety standards as permanent structures. The decision to charge under Article 109, combined with the swift detention of the operating company's director, follows a pattern in which Russian investigators move quickly to establish individual criminal liability in high-profile fatal incidents. Whether the investigation will extend beyond Mkrtchyan to other officials or entities with inspection or permitting authority over the Kudrinskaya Square site remains an open question.

Kudrinskaya Square sits at the intersection of several major thoroughfares in central Moscow, near the landmark Kudrinskaya Square Tower, one of the Seven Sisters skyscrapers built under Stalin. An incident producing multiple casualties in this location carries inherent political sensitivity, and the engagement of both the MVD and the SK, along with the Ministry of Health, reflects the multi-agency response that such an event demands within Russia's security architecture.

The key variables to watch are whether the casualty figures stabilize at the MVD's 15-injured count or the SK's 39-hospitalized count, whether the gas-cylinder explanation is confirmed by forensic analysis, and whether additional individuals beyond Mkrtchyan face charges as the investigation examines the chain of responsibility for safety compliance at the Kasabella-operated premises.