Daniil Peredriy, 27-year-old son-in-law of Alexander Chaiko, was killed in an explosion at the Balzi Rossi restaurant, and his personal documents have been declared invalid in state databases.
A Russian state database has confirmed the death of Daniil Peredriy, the son-in-law of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), Alexander Chaiko. According to the independent Russian outlet Meduza, one of Peredriy's personal documents has been declared invalid, which is standard procedure in Russia after a person's death. This confirms earlier unofficial reports that Peredriy was killed in an explosion that occurred on August 1, 2026, at the Italian restaurant Balzi Rossi in Moscow.
Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee reported that the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device that an unknown woman attempted to bring in. According to sources from the Kommersant newspaper, the woman was a courier delivering a gift box. The explosion occurred at the restaurant's entrance when a security guard stopped her. Kommersant reported that the woman was "literally blown to pieces." According to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, 21 people were injured. Three people died at the scene, including the courier and the security guard, and two more succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. The Russian Embassy in Italy announced on August 3, 2026, that a total of five people had died, and 19 others sustained serious injuries.
It is believed that the restaurant was hosting a birthday celebration for General Chaiko, who had turned 55 five days earlier, as well as his appointment as head of the VKS in May 2026. Chaiko previously led the Russian operation in Syria and the offensive in the Kyiv region in 2022, where numerous evidence of killings and torture of civilians was found after the de-occupation. Ukraine also accuses him of ordering bombings of civilian infrastructure.
In addition to Peredriy, other family members were reportedly affected by the explosion, according to unofficial information. Among the injured is mentioned the general's 25-year-old daughter, Maria Chaiko (married name Peredriy). Blogger Anatoly Shariy claims that Daniil Peredriy died "taking on the harmful elements intended for his wife." According to research by the outlet Agencia, Maria Chaiko graduated from the Moscow Institute of Public Law and Management in 2023 and worked as a legal advisor with a salary ranging from 2,000 to 39,000 rubles per month. In linked databases, she is also listed as the owner of a BMW. Daniil Peredriy graduated from the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics in 2021 and owned the company "Nexum-group," which produces cosmetics. He was also listed in databases as the owner of a Lexus and as a sports instructor. After the mobilization announcement in September 2022, Peredriy left for Armenia but returned a month later via Turkey. Maria Chaiko received a passport under her husband's surname in April 2025, and the couple married in June 2025 at the lavish Villa Rotonda in the gated community of Dovil near Odintsovo, which Agencia describes as "one of the most expensive banquet venues in the Moscow region."
Verstka reports that Alexander Peredriy, Daniil Peredriy's father and General Chaiko's best man, as well as 20-year-old Evdokia Kirilova, the niece of the general's wife, may have also been affected by the explosion. Alexander Peredriy was reportedly seen in footage near an ambulance wearing a bloodied shirt, while Kirilova was on the lists of the injured. There is no official confirmation of their condition.
The Russian Embassy in Italy assessed that the attack was directed against Italians, stating: "By planning a terrorist attack in one of the best Italian restaurants in Moscow, the Kyiv terrorists wanted to frighten Italians working in Russia, show them that they are also in the crosshairs and could become the next victim of scoundrels at any moment." Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani rejected this version: "Why would Ukrainians intimidate Italians? On the contrary, Russians intimidate Italians, given that we support Ukraine." Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attack, and its officials have not commented on the incident.
The explosion has raised questions about security protocols for high-ranking Russian military officials. Retired FSB Lieutenant Colonel Alexei Filatov stated that it is unacceptable to hold celebrations in ordinary restaurants "given the statistics of 'successful terrorist attacks' against our officials." Political scientist Ekaterina Schulmann posted on Facebook instructions allegedly distributed in military hospitals, advising Russian soldiers to partially change their appearance, avoid delivery services, and "not approach unexpectedly delivered packages."
The Balzi Rossi restaurant has been temporarily closed, and its head chef, Carmine Alfieri, wrote on Instagram that "the restaurant and kitchen are in perfect condition." The restaurant's management stated: "We thank everyone for their words of support and sympathy. Everything is fine with our restaurant." The restaurant later apologized and promised to help the families of the deceased. According to blogger Ksenia Sobchak, the restaurant could reopen its doors on August 5, 2026.
