Five dead in Moscow Italian restaurant attack; Neapolitan chef Carmine Alfieri miraculously escapes.

Five dead, nineteen injured, and one of Moscow's most famous Italian restaurants transformed into a scene of devastation. This is the toll from the explosion that occurred last night at Balzi Rossi, a landmark Italian restaurant in the Russian capital. Among the survivors is Neapolitan chef Carmine Alfieri, who, along with his team, managed to escape uninjured.

According to a statement released on its social media channels by the Russian Embassy in Italy, the chef from Campania and his staff escaped the explosion "thanks to the attention and professionalism of a Russian security agent," who intervened promptly.

Moscow accuses the attack of "an attack to intimidate Italians."

The statement released by the Russian diplomatic mission makes serious accusations against Ukraine. The embassy claims that "Kiev terrorists" are behind the attack and asserts that the target was chosen with the intent of striking a symbol of the Italian presence in Russia.

According to the diplomatic mission, the aim of the attack was to "intimidate Italians working in Russia," making them appear as potential targets of future attacks.

The statement also contains harsh remarks against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other members of the Kiev government, linking them to international terrorist organizations. These statements were released by Russian diplomacy and, at this time, have not been corroborated by independent verification.

The Neapolitan chef and his team are safe.

Among the confirmed elements is the fact that Carmine Alfieri and all the members of the kitchen brigade emerged unharmed from the explosion.

The Russian embassy attributes their rescue to the timely intervention of the security forces present on the scene, while the exact dynamics of the attack and the nature of the device that caused the violent explosion remain unclear.

Condolences from the Balzi Rossi restaurant

In a message posted on their Instagram profile, the Balzi Rossi staff expressed their "deep sorrow for the tragedy" and offered their sincere condolences to the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

The club's management also announced its intention to provide assistance to the families of the deceased, explaining that direct contact will be initiated in the coming days to offer the necessary support.

Investigations still ongoing

Russian authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the circumstances of the explosion and identify those responsible. Currently, the accusations leveled by the Russian Embassy against Ukraine represent Moscow's official position, but they have not been confirmed by independent sources, nor have any investigative evidence been released that would allow for a definitive attribution of responsibility for the attack.