A top Russian general, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, accused by Ukraine of overseeing the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops, was assassinated in Moscow on Tuesday morning. The operation, attributed to Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service, marks one of the most significant killings of its kind during the ongoing conflict.
Kirillov, who served as the chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed alongside his assistant when a bomb hidden in an electric scooter detonated outside an apartment building on Ryazansky Prospekt, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee. An SBU source confirmed to Reuters that the Ukrainian intelligence agency was behind the attack, stating, “The liquidation of the chief of the radiation and chemical protection troops of the Russian Federation is the work of the SBU.”
Details of the Attack and Aftermath
Witnesses reported that the explosion occurred as Kirillov and his aide exited the building. Unverified video footage circulating on social media showed the two men approaching their vehicle just before the blast. Kirillov, 54, is the highest-ranking Russian military officer to be assassinated within Russia by Ukrainian forces, prompting speculation about increased security measures for Russian military leaders and potential retaliatory actions.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now a senior security official, warned that Ukraine’s military and political leadership would face imminent revenge for Kirillov’s murder. Moscow has accused Ukraine of orchestrating a series of high-profile assassinations aimed at undermining morale and punishing individuals deemed responsible for war crimes.
Reactions and Context
In the wake of the assassination, Russian authorities opened a criminal investigation into the deaths of the two servicemen, with law enforcement sources indicating that a terrorism case may be initiated. Kirillov had previously been sanctioned by the UK for his alleged involvement in using chemical agents on the battlefield, including the toxic choking agent chloropicrin, which Ukraine claims was used to incapacitate its troops.
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, praised Kirillov for his “fearless” service to the country, asserting that he worked to expose alleged Western crimes related to chemical weapons. The day before his assassination, Ukrainian prosecutors reportedly charged Kirillov in absentia for the alleged use of banned chemical weapons.
Kirillov was also listed in an unofficial Ukrainian database of individuals considered enemies of the state, with his photograph marked “Liquidated” following his death. The assassination of Kirillov adds to a series of targeted killings attributed to Ukraine since the onset of the full-scale war in February 2022, including the high-profile murders of Darya Dugina and pro-war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky.
As the conflict continues, the implications of Kirillov’s assassination may reverberate through both military and political circles in Russia, potentially escalating tensions further.
