Russian Embassy in Kabul hit by a suicide bomber, resulting in top diplomat's death

A top Russian diplomat, a Russian security guard, and four Afghans were killed during a suicide bombing outside of the Russian Embassy in Kabul on Monday, according to Russian and Afghan officials. 

Russian media identifies the diplomat as Mikhail Shakh.

Taliban guards shot at the suicide bomber, but his device still detonated, according to the Afghan police, the Washington Post reported.

The Russian Foreign Ministry told Reuters they are working with Afghan officials to investigate the incident. 

"On September 5, at 10:50 a.m. Kabul time, in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to the consular section of the Russian Embassy in Kabul, an unknown militant set off an explosive device," read a statement from the ministry. "As a result of the attack, two employees of the diplomatic mission were killed, and there are also victims among Afghan citizens." 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called the incident a "terrorist act" and said the Russian Embassy's security has been tightened, The Washington Post reports. 

"Let's hope that the organizers and perpetrators of this terrorist act will suffer their deserved punishment in the very near future," Lavrov said after having a moment of silence for the two Russians killed in the attack.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack, and a suspect has not been identified.

Since the U.S. left Afghanistan last year, Russia has been one of the few countries that has kept their embassy in Kabul, even though Moscow does not  recognize the Taliban as head of the government.