Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, a senior Russian military officer overseeing nuclear protection forces, was killed in a bomb explosion outside an apartment building in Moscow. The Russian investigative committee confirmed the assassination, which involved an explosive device concealed in an electric scooter.
Kirillov served as the head of the Troops of Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense (RCBD) of the Russian armed forces. He was killed alongside his assistant on Tuesday on Ryazansky Prospekt.
“The head of the radiation, chemical, and biological protection forces of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, Igor Kirillov, and his assistant were killed,” stated Russia’s investigative committee.
Attack Details
The explosive device reportedly had a power equivalent to 300 grams of TNT, according to Russia’s TASS news agency. Photographs circulating on Russian Telegram channels showed a shattered building entrance, with debris and blood-stained snow surrounding the crime scene.
A source within Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) claimed responsibility for the attack. “We claim responsibility for the bombing of the head of the Russian Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces, Igor Kirillov,” an unnamed SBU official told Al Jazeera. Reuters and AFP also cited SBU sources, describing Kirillov as a “legitimate target.”
Ukraine’s official government has yet to comment on the incident.
Russia’s Response
Russian officials accused Ukraine of orchestrating the assassination and highlighted a series of alleged Ukrainian-backed attacks on Russian soil since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Notable past incidents include the 2022 car bombing that killed Darya Dugina, the daughter of Russian ultranationalist Alexander Dugin.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, condemned the attack, calling it a distraction from Kyiv’s military setbacks. He promised retribution, stating that Ukraine’s senior leadership would face inevitable consequences.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, criticized Western nations for failing to condemn the assassination. “An entire day has passed. Where is at least some sort of reaction from abroad? Where are the ‘civilized’ ones?” Zakharova wrote on Telegram.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has not commented publicly on the incident.
Western Reactions
The United States denied involvement in the assassination. “I can tell you that the United States was not aware of it in advance and was not involved,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. He further described Kirillov as a general “involved in a number of atrocities,” including alleged use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces.
Kirillov was indicted in absentia by Ukrainian prosecutors for the alleged deployment of banned chemical agents on the battlefield. In October, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on him and his unit for their reported use of riot control agents and the toxic substance chloropicrin, a choking agent prohibited by international conventions.
Background on Igor Kirillov
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was a key figure in Russia’s specialized nuclear, chemical, and biological defense forces, which operate under hazardous conditions involving radioactive or toxic substances. His unit had faced international scrutiny over allegations of using chemical weapons, though Russia denies maintaining any military chemical arsenal.
Ukraine’s Security Service claims that over 4,800 instances of chemical weapon usage, including K-1 combat grenades, have been recorded since February 2022.
Lax Security Concerns
Residents of the Moscow apartment complex where the explosion occurred criticized the lack of surveillance in the area. Al Jazeera’s Maria Shapovalova reported complaints about nonfunctional security cameras that had been ignored for years.
“The cameras were not recording what was happening in the vicinity of the blast,” residents said. This security lapse has raised questions about how such an attack could occur in the heart of Moscow.
Growing Tensions
Kirillov’s assassination is the latest in a series of high-profile killings linked to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. As the war drags on, both sides continue to escalate operations that reach beyond the battlefield, heightening tensions and uncertainty in the region.
Disclaimer: This article is based on reports and claims from various sources. Some details remain unverified as investigations continue.
