The assassination of a senior Russian general in a bombing outside his apartment building in Moscow marked a bold attack on a high-ranking military officer and once again brought the war in Ukraine to the streets of the capital. Here are key details regarding the incident and the suspected perpetrators:
What occurred?
On Tuesday morning, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov was killed by a bomb concealed on an electric scooter placed near the entrance of his apartment block in southeastern Moscow as he was leaving for work. Kirillov’s assistant also tragically perished in the explosion. The bomb was remotely detonated, as indicated by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). Surveillance footage captured the moment of the blast as the victims exited the building.
Who were the victims?
Kirillov, aged 54, served as the head of Russia’s Radiation, Biological, and Chemical Protection Forces, responsible for safeguarding the military against the use of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and ensuring operations under hazardous conditions. He faced sanctions from various countries, including the U.K. and Canada, for his involvement in Moscow’s actions during the conflict in Ukraine. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had recently launched a criminal inquiry against Kirillov, alleging his direction of prohibited chemical weapons utilization. Kirillov had accused the Ukrainian military of employing toxic substances and planning attacks with radioactive materials, claims refuted by Kyiv and its Western allies. His assistant, Ilya Polikarpov, also lost his life in the attack.
Who has claimed responsibility?
An anonymous SBU official disclosed that the agency orchestrated the attack, labeling Kirillov a “war criminal” and a valid target. The SBU official shared video evidence of the bombing.
Who has been apprehended?
The FSB announced the arrest of a suspect identified as a citizen of Uzbekistan born in 1995. The suspect proclaimed recruitment by Ukrainian special services, allegedly promised $100,000 and relocation to an EU country in exchange for assassinating Kirillov. The FSB detailed the suspect’s acquisition of a homemade bomb in Moscow, attaching it to an e-scooter at Kirillov’s residence. The suspect surveilled the area from a rented vehicle and streamed live footage to handlers in Dnipro, Ukraine, triggering the bomb upon Kirillov’s departure. The FSB indicated that the suspect may face life imprisonment.
What remains unknown?
The FSB has not disclosed the suspect’s identity or the specifics of his recruitment process. The suspect was detained in a Moscow region village, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Official Irina Volk, as quoted by the Tass news agency, has reported that the whereabouts of the individual in question are currently unknown, as well as the timing of their court appearance. It is anticipated that these details will be revealed in the upcoming days, when the terms of their pre-trial detention will also be disclosed. According to Russian law, an individual can be held in custody for a maximum of 48 hours before a court order is required.
Russian officials have labeled the recent bombing as a “terrorist act.” The Kremlin made a statement on Wednesday asserting that it is “obvious” Ukraine is responsible for the killing of Kirillov. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, accused Kyiv of resorting to terrorist tactics. Although President Vladimir Putin has not publicly addressed the attack, Peskov conveyed his condolences for Kirillov’s tragic death.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, characterized the attack as a deliberate ploy by Kyiv to divert attention from its military setbacks. Medvedev vowed that the senior military and political figures in Ukraine would face repercussions for their actions. Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the lower house of Russia’s parliament, praised Kirillov as a skilled military professional, an intellectual, and a devoted Russian patriot. Volodin highlighted Kirillov’s contributions to enhancing the effectiveness of Russia’s defense forces against radiation, chemical, and biological threats, as well as safeguarding the security and sovereignty of the nation.
In light of these developments, it is worth noting that Illia Novikov’s contribution to this report from Kyiv, Ukraine, adds a valuable perspective on the situation.
