DONETSK, February 3. /TASS/. The creation of the Arbat volunteer battalion and the development of sports were the most notable achievements of Armen Sarkisyan, the man who was killed in an explosion in Moscow, said the head of Gorlovka municipal district Ivan Prikhodko.
"Sarkisyan's most significant achievement was the creation and leadership of the separate special forces battalion Arbat. Formed from volunteers, this battalion played a key role in ensuring security on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic, participating in numerous operations to combat Ukrainian terrorism," the mayor wrote on Telegram.
He expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. Prikhodko also said the participation of Sarkisyan, who was a member of the DPR Boxing Federation, in the development of sports in the region.
Health care officials told TASS earlier on Monday that Sarkisyan died in a hospital of wounds he suffered in an explosion in the lobby of the Alye Parusa residential complex in Moscow. The blast took place on Monday morning. An investigation is underway.
Armen Sarkisyan was the honorary president of the DPR Boxing Federation. Most recently he served as chairman of the group’s supervisory board. In 2022, he created the Arbat Volunteer Battalion, which was initially aimed at defending Gorlovka from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He provided charity to the needy and helped with the repair of the Children's Social Center of Gorlovka. He was awarded the Order of Courage and was an Honorary Citizen of Gorlovka.