A senior Russian military official, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, and his assistant were killed in an explosion in Moscow. The incident occurred outside a residential building on Tuesday morning when an explosive device concealed in an electric scooter detonated.
The general, who led the Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Forces, was reportedly targeted by Ukraine’s security service, which has accused him of war crimes, including the use of banned chemical weapons. Ukrainian officials have labeled Kirillov a “legitimate target” due to his alleged involvement in these activities.
Images from the scene showed a damaged building entrance, with scorch marks, shattered windows, and body bags visible. Investigators cordoned off the area, describing the explosive device as having the power of 300 grams of TNT. Specialists examined the site and found no additional explosives.
Explosions targeting high-profile figures are rare in Moscow, but this attack has shaken local residents. Witnesses described being startled by the loud blast, initially mistaking it for construction noise.
The incident comes amid increasing reports of Ukrainian operations targeting Russian officials. In recent weeks, several high-ranking Russian figures have been killed in attacks both in Moscow and Russian-occupied areas.
Kirillov, who had held his position since 2017, was previously sanctioned for his alleged role in deploying chemical weapons. Accusations against him include overseeing thousands of chemical attacks during the ongoing conflict. Moscow has denied these allegations.
This assassination underscores the intensifying efforts by Ukraine’s forces to disrupt Russia’s military leadership nearly three years into the war.
