Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Forces, and his assistant were killed in an explosion in Moscow on Tuesday.
BREAKING:
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov has been killed by a remotely detonated bomb placed near the entrance of a building in Moscow
Kirillov was the head of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defense Forces (NBC)
Ukraine charged him with chemical war crimes 24h ago. pic.twitter.com/ZlxiBxABJu
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Russian authorities are treating the incident as a terrorist attack.
The explosion occurred near a residential apartment block on Ryazansky Avenue, where an explosive device had been planted inside a scooter and triggered remotely, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee.
Russian state news agency Tass reported that the bomb had an estimated power of approximately 300 grams of TNT.
“Investigators, forensic experts and operational services are working at the scene,” Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko stated. “Investigative and search activities are being carried out to establish all the circumstances around this crime.”
The explosion comes just one day after Ukraine’s Security Service, known as the SBU, charged Kirillov with the use of banned chemical weapons in the war against Ukraine.
The SBU claimed it had evidence of over 4,800 instances of chemical weapon use by Russian forces since the invasion began in February 2022.
Several nations had also imposed sanctions on Kirillov for his involvement in Russia’s military operations against Ukraine, as reported by the Associated Press.
The Investigative Committee, which is Russia’s top criminal investigative body, has opened an inquiry into the explosion.
Officials have not publicly identified any suspects or groups responsible for the attack, and investigations are ongoing.
The attack is significant given Kirillov’s high-ranking role in Russia’s military structure.
His leadership in the Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Forces placed him at the forefront of Russia’s response to potential unconventional warfare threats.
The explosion occurred during a period of increasing internal and external tension for Russia, particularly as its war in Ukraine continues with no clear resolution.
Terrorist attacks within Moscow are rare, but the conflict with Ukraine has heightened concerns about security within Russia’s borders.
The Russian government has yet to provide further updates about potential suspects or motivations for the attack.
Russian authorities typically blame sabotage or terrorism on actors linked to Ukraine, although such accusations have not yet been made in this case.
This incident marks the latest escalation in an already volatile conflict, as Russia continues its military campaign in Ukraine, and the Kremlin faces growing scrutiny domestically and abroad.
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