Kremlin Calls Suicide Blast Outside Russian Embassy Terrorist Attack, Two Staffers Dead

Terror attacks remain a constant threat for people in Kabul: just last month, a major explosion rocked a mosque in the northern part of the city, killing at least 21 and injuring 33 more.

A blast occurred in the Afghan capital, in the vicinity of the Russian embassy, which is located on Dar-ul-Aman Road in the seventh district of Kabul. A source said that the explosion went off when a diplomat came to announce the list of students who'd applied for a Russian visa.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that two embassy staffers were killed in the attack, adding that Moscow is in contact with the Afghan Security forces, which are investigating the blast.

"As a result of the attack, two employees of the diplomatic mission were killed, and there are also victims among Afghan citizens," the ministry added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that the embassy guard was boosted following the blast and expressed a hope that the people behind the gruesome attack would be held accountable in the near future.

Witnesses also told Sputnik that the death toll may reach up to 20 people, and according to another source, a total of 10 people were killed and 8 more hospitalized.

"A Russian diplomat was also injured in the explosion in front of the Russian embassy," a local source, who was near the scene, told Sputnik.

No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion so far.

In the meantime, Reuters reported, citing police, that the attack had been staged by a suicide bomber. According to the head of the police district, Mawlawi Sabir, the embassy guards recognized the attacker and shot him.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the attack, calling it unacceptable and noting that the Kremlin awaits additional information from the site of the incident.

Addressing the attack on the diplomatic mission, the Afghan Foreign Ministry expressed hope that it would not damage ties between the two nations.

"We have close relations with Russia and we will not allow such negative actions of enemies to negatively affect relations between the two countries," Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi wrote on Twitter.

Afganistan has been under the control of the Taliban* movement since last September. However, the Daesh** terror group continues to carry out attacks on civilians and police across the country.

*Taliban is under UN sanctions over terrorist activities

**Daesh, also known as IS/ISIS/Islamic State, is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries.