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Democrats blink as Schumer helps GOP clear key shutdown hurdle
Senate Republicans opted to strike on bipartisan momentum and take a key step to prevent a government shutdown almost two months before the deadline.
The upper chamber voted in a bipartisan wave to clear the first procedural hurdle for a short-term funding extension that would see the government open through the midterm elections and into early December.
It comes after Republicans have spent months hand wringing that Democrats would again shut the government down to score political points during the pivotal November elections.
HOUSE GOP VOTES TO PUNT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BATTLE TO AFTER NOVEMBER MIDTERMS
The actual deadline to fund the government is not until Sept. 30, when the current fiscal year expires, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., argued that it’s better to move now then to wait to create more "certainty" in the coming weeks.
"There's been enough uncertainty this last year, and, you know, unfortunately, I think through two government shutdowns that extended for a long period of time, it's better for everybody if there's predictability, certainty," Thune said.
Congress has been no stranger to shutdowns during President Donald Trump’s second term, with two of the longest in history taking place under Republican control of the legislative branch.
SENATE WEIGHS NEW, PAINFUL LEVERAGE TACTIC AS FEARS OF ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN GROW
The first happened last year, and entered the record books as the longest full government closure that stretched over 40 days. That battle was over now-expired Obamacare tax subsidies, an issue that was never fully reconciled in the months that followed.
Then came the shutdown earlier this year that stretched for over 70 days. Democrats rebelled against a bipartisan funding deal after Renee Nicole Good was slain in Minnesota by immigration enforcement agents. That prompted Republicans to skirt Democrats entirely and fund immigration enforcement on their own.
But, for now, there is a bipartisan current pushing through the Senate to at least make sure a shutdown doesn’t happen for the time being.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., endorsed the continuing resolution (CR) on Monday, arguing that the current bipartisan offering was the "responsible path forward that allows continued bipartisan negotiations on a budget that delivers for American families."
"For months, Democrats have been clear: we want to fund the government, avoid a shutdown and pass strong, bipartisan appropriations bills that improve people’s lives," Schumer said in a statement.
Republican leadership is hopeful that they can clear the decks and advance the CR to the House during the Senate’s last official week in town before jet-setting from Washington, D.C., back to lawmakers' respective home states.
While the CR is the current top priority, there are several other items waiting in the wings, too.
There’s a package of over 70 nominees Republicans want to ram through, the long-awaited Russia sanctions package, a crypto market structure package that, for now, appears doomed, and the final confirmation vote for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ).
"I think we have a bunch of stuff we have to finish and we’ll just stay until we finish it," Thune said.
Women's Tour de France hit with scandal as teams accuse riders of wearing padded bras to gain an advantage
There are accusations of padded bras being used for an aerodynamic advantage taking the cycling world by storm as the Tour de France Femmes takes place across Switzerland and France.
The controversy is heating up just as the third stage resulted in the longest solo breakaway victory in the race's history. Although it should be mentioned that there's currently no indication that a padded bra played any part in that.
Not since the Winter Olympics was put on edge by the ski jump penis injection rumors has a sport faced such a potential scandal.
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The Dutch outlet Wielerflits reported receiving several complaints from women's WorldTeams about female cyclists exploiting their breast size in time trials by faking a larger cup size using padding in their bras.
A rounder chest, an advantage in certain other ways, also helps reduce aerodynamic drag through something called chest fairing, according to Bert Blocken, a professor of aerodynamics at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland and LUT in Finland.
The use of a padded bra is prohibited under the regulations of the International Cycling Union (UCI), which make it clear you can't place objects on the chest or use clothing to alter the body shape of a rider.
"We are talking about a Chest Fairing, which alters the airflow around the body, thereby reducing overpressure on the thighs. As a result, the rider experiences less air resistance," said Professor Blocken.
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"It is not that you gain a benefit of tens of seconds with this in a time trial, but in a ride of 20 to 30 kilometers, it can yield seconds that can be decisive."
He's proved it with extensive research into chest fairings, although it isn't known if he dove into the use of padded bras or not. The research showed, the Dutch outlet reports, that you can achieve a reduction in air resistance of up to 3.6%.
Who knew a padded bra could be used to reduce air resistance? It's fascinating that we have people out there on both ends of this.
One side is trying to gain an advantage and the other is trying to find where one might be gained. And here we are talking about padded bras. Their work hasn't been in vain.
The teams upset about the faking of the larger cup sizes want the UCI jury to take action. They have an idea about what can be done too. They could have padded bra inspectors for a lack of a better term.
They'd like to "have a female juror check the riders in a closed tent immediately after the time trial to ensure they are not hiding anything in their bras or under their aero clothing."
That may solve the fake cup size and padded bra controversy, but what will they come up with next? Where will they inject or pad or attempt to gain a competitive advantage?
Has there been research into any aerodynamic advantages of a well-contoured Brazilian Butt Lift? I hope so.
Nationwide power failure hits Caribbean island as American citizens warned to prepare
Americans who are legally traveling to Cuba should expect major disruptions because of the country's blackout crisis, according to officials.
In a statement obtained by Fox News, the U.S. Embassy in Havana said the country is currently experiencing a total power failure due to its electrical grid collapsing.
"All U.S. citizens in Cuba or planning to travel to Cuba should be aware and plan accordingly," the embassy said.
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The latest outage marks Cuba's sixth nationwide grid failure of 2026, officials said, with three occurring in July alone.
Residents are currently suffering from intense heat and a lack of air conditioning, with many sleeping outside near the water to escape the sweltering temperatures, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
Sunday's highest temperature was 93 degrees Fahrenheit, though it felt like 106 degrees with the Caribbean's 80% humidity levels, per AP.
Though Cuba is by no means a tourism hot spot, it still attracts visitors from around the world, including Americans.
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U.S. law forbids any Americans to travel to Cuba for tourism purposes, though some visits are permitted under a dozen categories.
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) says Americans may travel to Cuba for purposes including family visits, journalism, education, religious activities, humanitarian projects and "support for the Cuban people."
In a previous travel advisory issued in May 2025, the State Department urged Americans traveling to Cuba to "stay aware of your surroundings."
"Do not physically resist any robbery attempt," the advisory states.
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"Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry."
The advisory also referenced "prolonged power outages," and suggested Americans bring portable battery banks, as well as spare batteries and nonperishable food and water.
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Cuba has struggled with an aging electrical grid for years, with recurring fuel shortages contributing to repeated nationwide outages.
Cuban officials have also blamed U.S. sanctions for exacerbating the country's energy crisis, though it's unclear what caused the latest blackout.
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"According to Cuban regime media, the reason for the collapse and the timeline to restore power is unknown," the U.S. Embassy in Havana said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for comment.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
UFC fighter Allan Nascimento dead at 34 after apparent heart attack
UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento has died at age 34, the UFC announced Monday.
Nascimento was found unresponsive after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep, according to a statement released by the organization.
Despite efforts by emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene, the UFC said.
In a post shared on X, the UFC said: "Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Allan's family, friends, teammates, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time."
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Clay Travis pledges $10M for ‘battle of the sexes’ matchup as WNBA trans debate intensifies
OutKick founder Clay Travis challenged the WNBA on Monday, offering a $10 million prize to stage a "modern-day battle of the sexes" basketball game between the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces and a boy's high school basketball state championship team.
The challenge comes as the WNBA finds itself at the center of a transgender culture debate after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, 29, said girls should not have to compete against biological men in women’s sports.
Cunningham’s bold stance to support keeping women’s sports reserved for biological females has generated strong backing – with some women’s sports advocates even rallying outside her games – but also fierce backlash.
"If the WNBA really doesn't believe that men are that much better than women at basketball, then the champion of the WNBA should be able to beat a bunch of high school boys," Travis said Monday on "The Will Cain Show."
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"If they are going to allow men to play, I think we should have an actual game. Not NBA players against WNBA players. High school boys. Let me pick a team," the Fox News contributor said.
Travis told Fox News the head-to-head matchup would be broadcast on pay-per-view, with all profits donated to Tunnels 2 Towers. He predicted the game would generate millions of dollars.
U OF WASHINGTON WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM PLAYED A HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SQUAD, AND YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO WON
"If the high school boys win, I will give them ten million dollars. If the WNBA team wins, I will give them ten million dollars. I think we would raise tens of millions of dollars for charity and I'm putting my money where my mouth is," he said.
"They always talk about how they want more money," Travis continued. "This is more money for one basketball game than has ever been paid to win in the history of the sport."
Travis criticized WNBA leadership, saying league officials have not responded to his proposed matchup or addressed what he characterized as the "absolutely ludicrous" and "absurd" idea of allowing biological males to compete in the women's league.
He took aim at WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, condemning her for not publicly defending Cunningham or speaking in favor of maintaining women's-only competition.
"It's called the WNBA because it's the women's basketball association, right?"
"The WNBA commissioner has not spoken out in favor of Sophie Cunningham or even just in favor of basic rules," he said.
Living longer could hinge on one surprising dietary change, study review suggests
Eating less protein, not cutting calories, may be an easier path to a longer, healthier life for sedentary adults, according to a new scientific review.
While previous research has long tied calorie restriction to improved lifespan and lower rates of age-related disease, studies have found that many people have difficulty maintaining strict low-calorie diets.
A review of more than 350 studies published in the journal Cell Press Blue suggests that targeted protein restriction can deliver similar metabolic benefits without the need to cut calories.
Across the reviewed studies, lower protein intake was associated with better metabolism, altered nutrient signaling, reduced cellular damage and improved cellular maintenance, according to the published review.
Much of the benefit stems from a metabolic hormone known as fibroblast growth factor 21, or FGF21. Restricting protein triggers a surge in FGF21, which animal studies have shown can boost energy expenditure, reduce inflammation, improve blood sugar control and extend lifespan.
Researchers highlighted three essential amino acids that are building blocks of protein — methionine, isoleucine and valine. Under certain conditions, they may contribute to biological pathways associated with aging under certain conditions.
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For people who don't exercise regularly, high levels of these amino acids may keep certain growth-related processes constantly active. Over time, that stimulation can create cellular damage, systemic inflammation and weight gain.
"It's absolutely crystal-clear that there are benefits of protein for muscle growth and exercise response of active individuals," said Dudley Lamming, the paper’s corresponding author and a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
"But because most people are relatively sedentary, many people are likely consuming more protein than they actually need, which probably has negative health consequences," he added in the press release.
There were some limitations to the study findings. Because the paper is a scientific review rather than a new clinical trial, it identifies patterns across existing research but cannot establish cause and effect in humans, the researchers acknowledged.
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Longer-term human studies are still needed to determine whether these metabolic benefits ultimately translate into increased lifespan, they noted.
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The review emphasizes that protein needs are not one-size-fits-all, and that the findings should not be interpreted as a recommendation to consume inadequate amounts.
Physically active people and athletes process protein differently. Exercise helps to direct dietary amino acids toward building and repairing muscle instead of leaving excess amino acids to be processed by the body, the researchers noted.
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High protein intake is also crucial for pregnant women and older adults who may face age-related muscle loss.
For the broader, largely inactive population, the findings suggest that public health guidelines should move away from sweeping recommendations and instead tailor protein targets to a person's age and activity level.
Raiders franchise that once embraced an outlaw image now has 'no turds,' coach Klint Kubiak says
It's a new day for the Las Vegas Raiders, and by that we're talking about a time with a new head coach, new coaching staff, new veteran players and new rookies starting with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
It's also apparently the time for a new disposition and personality around the storied franchise.
"I think we just have a professional group of players, you know?" coach Klint Kubiak told reporters on Monday. "They care about getting better."
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And this:
"We don't have any turds," Kubiak pointed out. "We got guys that want to be here. that want to win, that want to change this place. I'm really, really happy with that."
This is good. It's often good when a football team has no, using Kubiak's word, "turds."
But aside from it being a good thing, it's kind of a different thing for the Raiders.
There was a time, you see, mostly starting in the rollicking 1960s, through the rocking 1970s, and probably all the way through to the early 2000s, when the Raiders had some, shall we say, questionable guys.
They were a team that boasted a roster with renegades. And owner Al Davis, who once sued the NFL and moved the franchise multiple times to the chagrin of his fellow owners, embraced the outlaw image.
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This is a franchise that had a starting safety named Jack Tatum. His playing style led to him being nicknamed "The Assassin," which made him quite polarizing, especially after one of his hits left receiver Darryl Stingley paralyzed.
"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault," Tatum wrote in his autobiography.
This franchise didn't draft John Matuszak, but Davis found the boundary-pushing, difficult-to-coach individualist a perfect fit for the Raiders.
Matuszak struggled with alcohol and drug use throughout and after his playing career. In his autobiography, he openly admitted using prescription painkillers, cocaine and steroids while in the NFL.
And yet he was a key defensive lineman on Oakland's Super Bowl XI and Super Bowl XV champions.
There were others, of course.
Warren Wells was one of the AFL's most explosive wide receivers in the mid-to-late 1960s — until his career was derailed by a rape conviction that sent him to prison.
Even the team's The Autumn Wind anthem — adopted from an NFL Films feature on the Raiders — is an embrace of the franchise's outlaw reputation.
The Autumn Wind is a Raider,
Pillaging just for fun.
He'll knock you 'round and upside down,
And laugh when he's conquered and won."
For the record, the Raiders of this century have not enjoyed anything close to the success those teams of yesteryear authored. But the latter-day Raiders also had, Kubiak vocabulary here, turds.
Cornerback Damon Arnette lasted only two seasons with the club until weapons and drug-related charges made him impossible to keep. The former first-round pick, bouncing around the NFL and other leagues, is a free agent.
Henry Ruggs III wasn't a "turd" in the classic sense of the NFL meaning. But he made tragic decisions that led him to drive drunk, killing a woman and her dog in a fiery crash years ago.
There are also more recent players such as Charles Snowden and Rodric Teamer who were arrested on charges of DUI, significant enough that the Raiders quickly cut them.
And there was Chandler Jones, who was arrested multiple times in 2023 on charges of violating domestic violence protective orders. Jones was eventually placed on the non-football illness list for what club sources described as "concerning" behavior.
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But this Raiders team is apparently different.
Born-again Christian Kirk Cousins is the presumptive starting quarterback. Mendoza has such a polished public personality it borders on implausible. Maxx Crosby is one aggressive dude on the field, but off the field those videos of him and his little girl will melt your heart.
These Raiders apparently don't have the image of those fateful Autumn Wind clubs. And Klint Kubiak likes it.
‘Doctor’ El-Sayed’s bizarre health hustle raises campaign headache: ‘Moon Juice Brain Dust’
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed made money promoting health products, including while invoking his medical credentials, despite saying he broadly rejected advertisements for products making health claims and criticizing others for doing the same.
Before running for Senate, El-Sayed hosted a podcast that provided him with a six-figure income partially through ad reads. Among the companies El-Sayed promoted for cash, often citing his purported experience as a doctor, were firms selling supplements, peptides, and an Israeli metabolism-tracking device that has been scrutinized by health experts.
The ad reads came despite an assurance from El-Sayed that he would not use his platform to sell health products to people who listen to him.
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"I broadly reject any advertisements that are for products making claims about health," he wrote in a now-deleted social media post from March 2022.
El-Sayed also accused Mehmet Oz during his 2022 Pennsylvania Senate run of being part of the "medical industrial complex that exists to sell you things that you don’t need that are not actually based in any level of science."
"Yet he can … say, ‘Well, I’m a doctor, so you should trust what I have to say,'" El-Sayed added.
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After assuring his audience that he wouldn't hawk health products, and criticizing Oz for using his medical credentials for doing so, El-Sayed used his medical credentials to sell health products.
"Even as a doctor and epidemiologist, nutrition labels are obnoxiously hard to process," El-Sayed said during a March 2025 ad read. "That's where Thrive Market comes in. See, I love Thrive Market, my go to online grocery store for getting all of my healthy essentials delivered. And I don't even have to leave my couch."
Thrive Market has sold a wide selection of supplements, including items such as "Moon Juice Brain Dust" and "Royal Jelly Brain Fuel" that claim to improve the cognitive function of those who use them. Health experts have cast doubt on whether or not such supplements can actually improve brain function.
Moon Juice Brain Dust describes itself as a "nootropic blend of adaptogens and herbs that target stress to support mental stamina, alertness, and concentration" that is "informed by Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda." Royal jelly, meanwhile, is a thick, milky substance produced by bees to feed their queen. Proponents argue it can be helpful in treating menopause symptoms or addressing low energy, though scientific evidence for such claims is limited.
Thrive did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday.
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While El-Sayed has leaned heavily on his identity as a doctor both in doing ad reads and on the campaign trail, public records indicate that he never held a medical license or completed a residency. He does, however, hold a medical degree and a doctorate degree in public health.
The New York Post was the first to report on El-Sayed’s advertisement for health goods.
A company making moon dust and brain jelly wasn’t El-Sayed’s only customer.
On July 23, 2024, El-Sayed read an ad promoting a medical device created by an Israel-based startup.
"Lumen is the world's first handheld metabolic coach. It's a device that measures your metabolism through your breath and on the app. It lets you know if you're burning fat or carbs and gives you tailored guidance to improve your nutrition, workout, sleep, and even manage your stress," he said. "All you've got to do is breathe into your Lumen first thing in the morning, and it'll give you an inside look into what's going on with your metabolism, whether you're burning mostly fats or carbs."
Years before El-Sayed took Lumen’s advertising money, experts were raising concerns about its medical claims.
"I just don’t see a practical use for the product in helping people achieve their weight-loss goals," Harbor-UCLA Medical Center senior researcher Nicholas Tiller told Outside Magazine in 2022. "The use of metabolic flexibility and other science-sounding terms lend the product a false scientific legitimacy."
"It’s quintessential marketing over science," he added.
El-Sayed also advertised for a company offering a peptide that allegedly improves skin health.
The El-Sayed campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday.
Mamdani's grocery giveaway hits ID snag as critics cry foul: 'Make it make sense'
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s game plan for government-run grocery stores faced criticism Monday after a city official told reporters a "library-card-esque system" may be employed to prevent abuse of the 30% discounted markets.
Mamdani took a question from a reporter who asked about preventing bulk purchases of groceries at the artificial discount from being re-sold at MSRP or higher.
The mayor responded that the government grocery Request-for-Proposal makes clear "this is a program for New Yorkers to be able to put food on the table, not a program for people to be able to make a quick buck through reselling. I'm going to pass it over to our EDC head, Jeanny Pak, to add some additional details."
MAMDANI’S CITY GROCERY PLAN COULD LEAVE TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR EVERY BANANA
It was Pak’s follow-up that raised eyebrows, given Mamdani and many Democrats’ staunch opposition to voter ID and Republicans’ SAVE America Act moving through Congress.
"[W]e are looking to make sure that we target New Yorkers, whether it be a sort of a library card-esque thing, and also we manage who's buying and that is focused on everyday New Yorkers," Pak said.
"So, we are mindful of that, and so we're going to make sure that we have all the things in place to ensure that that does not happen."
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When asked about the apparent divergence between Pak’s response referencing a possible ID card-type system and opposition to voter ID, a Mamdani spokesperson said it was an apples-to-oranges contrast.
"Comparisons to voter ID laws or the SAVE Act simply do not apply. This is not an identification system, nor is it a mechanism to verify who someone is, where they live, or how much they earn," Mamdani’s spokesperson said.
"It is a practical inventory management tool to ensure affordable groceries remain available for the people who need them instead of being cleared off shelves for resale."
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The spokesperson pointed to the mayor’s comments specifically regarding bulk-buying concerns, saying that was the premise of the reporter’s question — not whether people from Pennsylvania, New Jersey or upstate New York would be able to shop at the subsidized outlets.
"To be absolutely clear: NYC Grocery stores will be open to everyone," the spokesperson said.
"There will be no system to verify identity, residency, or income, and no one will be asked to show ID to shop."
Instead of an "ID," the spokesperson said the stores may employ a "customer card" similar to loyalty programs at other grocers like ShopRite, Food Lion or Weis.
The "customer card" would be designed by the "private operator" of the city-run store to "help manage supply and prevent people from buying large quantities of discounted staples for resale" and is strictly intended to "make sure the savings reach families putting food on the table."
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Customers will not need to apply through City Hall or any agency, the spokesperson added.
Critics were unconvinced.
"ID for government cheese," said Philadelphia radio host Rich Zeoli.
"After all, we have to make sure no one crosses the border and if they do, the police will be called. So it's good to see Mamdani now supports ID (just not for voting), border control, and law enforcement," Zeoli tweeted.
Former Texas congressional candidate Nick Plumb commented on X that "Mamdani wants to protect taxpayer funded grocery store[s] from non-NYC residents they’ll need an ID card to enter. You can[t] make this up."
Former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a supporter of voter ID who also opposed the Old Dominion’s recent failed attempt to redraw congressional lines to Democrats’ advantage, also criticized the mayor.
"So let me get this straight: Taxpayer-funded grocery store? Better show a valid ID or you can’t buy milk," Miyares said.
"Voting for the people who decide how those taxes get spent? A valid ID is somehow ‘racist’ and ‘oppressive’. Unbelievable," he said.
When asked whether the mayor's office believed the loyalty card system constituted a form of identification, a Mamdani spokesperson directed Fox News Digital to a paragraph in the Request for Proposal (RFP) that prospective store operators must follow:
"The Operator(s) will create a voluntary free-to-access membership card program to monitor sales activity, and implement the discount program and any associated demand management measures. The savings card shall not be required for physical access to N.Y.C. Groceries site(s) and shall be made easily available to any individual requesting one," the section read.
"Make it make sense," added FOX News host Sean Hannity.
New York Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney added: "So ID for government grocery stores to stop people abusing the system is fine, but requiring ID to vote not? Got it."
SAVE Act supporter Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., added on X that the hypocrisy must "stop."
"Democrats: Are fighting to ensure you don’t have to show an ID before voting in our elections. Also Democrats: Want you to show an ID before entering a supermarket."
"Oh, the irony is too much," said X CEO Elon Musk.
Moscow bombing exposes potential security gaps around Putin’s military elite, expert says
Russian President Vladimir Putin's drive to project "normalcy" in Moscow may have created a dangerous security blind spot, giving adversaries like Ukraine greater opportunities to target the Kremlin's military elite, an analyst said Monday.
The assessment came after a deadly explosion ripped through an upscale Moscow restaurant on Aug. 1, where a senior Russian general was reportedly attending a private celebration. Several Russian media outlets claimed the bombing targeted Col. Gen. Alexander Chaiko, who led the troops that made a botched attempt to storm the Ukrainian capital in 2022 and recently was appointed the chief of Russia’s aerospace forces. The claims could not be independently verified.
If Chaiko was indeed at the restaurant, "that would establish a compelling motive for Ukraine," Dr. Mark Episkopos, a Eurasia research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told Fox News Digital. "But there has been an ongoing discourse inside Russia that, despite numerous such attacks, Russian elites and even military figures continue to flout [operational security] best practices by holding parties like this in the first place."
The Russian Embassy in Rome accused Kyiv of carrying out the attack and said in a statement Aug. 2 that the attack was "evidence that the Ukrainian terrorist contagion is already beginning to spread."
MAYOR CALLS UPSCALE RESTAURANT BOMBING A 'BRUTAL TERRORIST ACT'
"The other factor here is that Putin has done his best to preserve a sense of ‘normalcy’ in Moscow and St. Petersburg, cultivating a facade of stability that Ukraine has been able to exploit," Episkopos added.
Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee said an unidentified woman carried an improvised explosive device to the Balzi Rossi restaurant. The committee said the woman was stopped by security before the bomb was detonated near the restaurant's entrance. The Russian Embassy in Rome on Monday said five people were killed and 19 were injured in the attack.
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"This particular event did seem to have a substantial level of security, which is why the person carrying the explosive was reportedly stopped and questioned at the entrance," Episkopos noted.
Russian investigators suggested the courier may not have known she was transporting explosives and said the device was detonated remotely.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin condemned the "brutal terrorist attack," vowing that those responsible would be punished, according to Deutsche Welle.
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"The means by which this attack was executed — a remotely detonated explosive device delivered on-site by a civilian — are also consistent with other assassinations deep inside Russian territory previously attributed to Ukraine," Episkopos said.
"These include those of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, pro-Kremlin blogger Vladlen Tatarsky and others," he said.
Ukraine had not publicly commented on the restaurant bombing as of Monday afternoon, and no group had claimed responsibility.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has repeatedly accused Kyiv of targeting senior military officers, pro-war figures and Russian-installed officials.
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Episkopos noted that Kyiv has increasingly used unconventional tactics to offset Russia's superiority in conventional manpower and firepower.
"Ukraine has pioneered a new style of asymmetric warfare that plays to its strengths and Russia's weaknesses — relatively porous borders and vast territory that's difficult to monitor, let alone defend," he said. "Ukraine's interior is smaller and comparatively better controlled, and the intelligence it receives from Western partners plays a role here."
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Episkopos added: "This makes operations like this more difficult to pull off. Russia has generally relied on its advantage in raw firepower to conduct airstrikes, as opposed to covert assassinations, against high-value Ukrainian targets."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.