A high-ranking general in the Russian military, Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, has been killed in Moscow, a move that Ukraine’s security service claims was justified. Kirillov, head of the Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defence Forces, died when a device concealed in a scooter was remotely detonated as he stood outside a residential building.
Sources within Ukraine’s SBU security service labeled Kirillov “a legitimate target,” alleging his involvement in war crimes. On the day before his death, the SBU charged Kirillov in absentia for his alleged responsibility in the mass use of banned chemical weapons, although the Ukrainian government has yet to issue an official comment on the incident.
Images from the scene show a severely damaged entrance to the building, with burnt marks on the walls and shattered windows. Russian investigators have cordoned off the area as they assess the site, where two bodies were reportedly found.
Previously, in October, the UK imposed sanctions on Kirillov, attributing to him the oversight of chemical weapon use in Ukraine and his role in disseminating Kremlin disinformation. According to Ukrainian authorities, under Kirillov’s leadership, Russia utilized chemical weapons over 4,800 times, a claim the Kremlin has categorically denied.
Following the explosion on Ryazansky Avenue, Russian officials announced that they had opened a criminal investigation into the murder, with forensic teams actively gathering evidence at the scene. Russian state media reported that the explosive device had the equivalent force of 300 grams (0.7 pounds) of TNT. Bomb specialists later confirmed that no additional explosives were found in the vicinity.
Eyewitness accounts from locals revealed a mix of shock and confusion over the incident. A resident named Liza described the event as shocking, stating, “It’s one thing reading about it in the news… now someone is dead, here, you can feel the consequences.” Other residents initially mistook the sound of the blast for nearby construction work.
The attack heightens the realization among Muscovites that the ongoing conflict is more immediate than previously perceived, as this marks a rare occurrence of such violence occurring in the capital.
Under UK sanctions, Kirillov was subjected to asset freezes and travel restrictions for his alleged actions in Ukraine. In May, U.S. officials accused Russia of employing chemical weapons in Ukraine, labeling these actions as violations of international law.
Ukrainian military reports indicate that over 2,000 service members have required hospital treatment for chemical exposure during the war, leading to multiple fatalities. The Kremlin continues to dismiss these accusations as unfounded.
Kirillov, who oversaw military operations linked to hazardous materials and served as the head of the NBC Defence Forces since 2017, has now become one of several high-profile Russian figures targeted as Ukraine intensifies its strikes on senior military personnel. His assassination follows the recent killing of Russian weapons expert Mikhail Shatsky, reportedly also carried out by Ukrainian intelligence.
As the conflict approaches its third anniversary, Ukraine’s security services appear to be ramping up their efforts to eliminate significant figures within the Russian military framework.
Credit: BBC News
