MOSCOW (Diya TV) — A top Russian general, Igor Kirillov, was killed Tuesday in an explosion outside his Moscow apartment building, a day after Ukraine’s security service filed criminal charges against him. The bombing, which Ukraine claimed responsibility for, also killed Kirillov’s assistant.
Kirillov, 54, was in command of Russia’s armed forces for nuclear, biological and chemical protection. He left his home in Moscow where a remotely detonated explosive device planted in a moped exploded. The intensity of the blast is depicted in the broken windows, and scorched brick work.
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has confirmed that it is indeed involved in the attack. It says Kirillov is a “war criminal” and a valid target. This statement comes from the SBU following a criminal investigation launched against him on Monday, charging him with organizing the use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the SBU reported more than 4,800 cases of chemical weapon use by Russian forces. This year, the US State Department confirmed reports of the Russian military using poison gas chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops. Russia denies using chemical weapons and accused Ukraine of deploying toxic agents.
Kirillov had been one of the loudest voices in Russia’s accusations against Ukraine, regularly accusing the country’s forces of planning to use radioactive substances and other toxic agents in warfare. These claims, often presented at press briefings, were rejected as propaganda by Ukraine and its Western allies.
After the attack, the Russian government declared that it was investigating Kirillov’s death as an act of terrorism. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, condemned the bombing as an attempt by Ukraine to divert attention from its own military struggles and promised retribution against Kyiv’s senior military-political leadership.
The U.S. State Department denied any involvement in the attack, with spokesperson Matthew Miller stating that Washington had not been aware of the event in advance. Speaking at a summit in Estonia, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said it would be understandable for Ukraine to retaliate as it saw fit.
