Russian authorities have detained a 29-year-old Uzbek man in connection with the killing of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his assistant in Moscow. Kirillov, the head of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Forces, was killed early Tuesday when an explosive device concealed in an electric scooter was remotely detonated near a residential building.
According to the Russian Investigative Committee (SK), the unnamed suspect admitted to being recruited by Ukrainian special services. However, no evidence has been provided to substantiate this claim. Meanwhile, a source from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) told the BBC that the agency orchestrated the assassination, calling Kirillov, 54, a “legitimate target” and accusing him of war crimes.
The incident occurred just a day after Ukraine charged Kirillov in absentia, alleging he was responsible for the widespread use of banned chemical weapons. Moscow denies these allegations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences over the general’s death.
Details of the Attack
The SK revealed that the suspect, born in 1995, planted the explosive device on an electric scooter near the entrance of Kirillov’s residence. To coordinate the attack, the suspect rented a car outfitted with a camera that livestreamed footage to individuals organizing the operation from Dnipro, Ukraine.
When Kirillov and his assistant, Ilya Polikarpov, exited the building, the explosive was remotely detonated, killing both men.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) released a video of the suspect’s interrogation. In the footage, a man, handcuffed and wearing a torn coat, admitted to being promised $100,000 and a European passport for carrying out the assassination. The FSB claimed he received a homemade explosive device upon arriving in Moscow under Ukrainian instructions. It remains unclear whether the confession was coerced.
Context and Implications
Kirillov is believed to be the highest-ranking military officer assassinated within Russia since the start of the country’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2024. Previously sanctioned by the UK for his alleged involvement in chemical weapon use, Kirillov was accused by Ukraine of overseeing over 4,800 chemical weapon incidents. Moscow has consistently denied these claims, stating its chemical weapons stockpile was fully destroyed in 2017.
On Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced plans to address Kirillov’s assassination at the United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday.
Aftermath
Photos from the scene showed significant damage to Kirillov’s apartment building in southeastern Moscow, with scorch marks, blown-out windows, and body bags visible on the street. Russian officials have vowed to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.