Former Russian-installed Luhansk 'Mayor' Manolis Pilavov killed in explosion

Manolis Pilavov, the former head of the Russian occupation administration in Luhansk, was killed in an explosion in the temporarily occupied city, Russian media reported on 3 July.

According to Kremlin-aligned outlets RIA Novosti and TASS, as well as independent Latvia-based Meduza, the blast occurred around midday on Taras Shevchenko Street. Initial reports from the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic government" confirmed that one person had died and three others were injured.

Later, Russian state media identified the deceased as Pilavov, who led the Russian-installed Luhansk administration from December 2014 until November 2023.

While the cause of the explosion remains under investigation, preliminary unconfirmed reports suggest an explosive device had been planted behind the door of Pilavov's residence.

Luhansk remains under Russian occupation following Moscow’s 2014 military intervention in eastern Ukraine and its full-scale invasion in 2022.