In a shocking event in Moscow, General Igor Kirillov, the commander of the Russian army’s unit responsible for nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, was killed when a bomb hidden in a nearby e-scooter exploded. Reports indicate that his aide also lost his life in the blast.
According to Russian officials, the explosion occurred early Tuesday morning near Ryazansky Prospekt, a major thoroughfare leading into the center of Moscow. The National Investigation Committee, an independent body reporting directly to President Vladimir Putin, is conducting the investigation.
Damage was evident at the entrance of the building where the explosion took place, and investigation teams have been deployed to the scene. A spokesperson for the Investigation Committee characterized the explosion as a terrorist attack and noted that the investigation is being conducted from multiple angles.
Ukrainian Intelligence Claims Responsibility
International news agencies have reported, based on sources within Ukrainian security circles, that the assassination of Kirillov was orchestrated by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). An official from the SBU stated to the German news outlet Spiegel, “Today’s bombing targeting General Igor Kirilov, head of the Russian armed forces’ radiation, chemical, and biological defense forces, is a special operation by the SBU.”
Reports from Reuters confirm that Kirillov is viewed as a war criminal by Ukraine, making him a legitimate target.
Reactions from Russian Officials
Dmitry Medvedev, former Prime Minister of Russia and current Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, described the attack as “an initiative from Kiev,” claiming it was intended to distract the public from military failures. Medvedev warned that the top political and military leadership in Ukraine would face “inevitable revenge.”
Kirillov’s Legal Troubles
At 54 years old, Kirillov was already on international sanctions lists. According to the Kyiv Independent, he was being tried in absentia in Ukraine on charges of using chemical weapons. The SBU reported that since the beginning of the Russian invasion, there have been at least 4,800 documented chemical weapon attacks in Ukraine, resulting in the deaths or injuries of at least 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
International Sanctions
In October, the UK government imposed sanctions on Kirillov and his unit, accusing them of facilitating the deployment of these “barbaric weapons.” Moscow has denied these allegations. Both the UK and the US have accused Russia of violating the International Chemical Weapons Convention by using the toxic agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces.
Chloropicrin, which was used during World War I, is listed among the substances banned by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Kirillov’s death marks him as the highest-ranking Russian military official killed in such an explosion in Moscow since the onset of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.
