General Igor Kirillov, the chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Forces (RKhBZ), was killed in a bomb explosion outside a residential building in Moscow, Russian authorities have confirmed.
The bomb, hidden on an electric scooter, detonated as Kirillov was leaving the building on Ryazansky Prospekt. According to the Russian Investigative Committee, Kirillov and his assistant were both killed in the blast.
Images from the scene, shared on Russian Telegram channels, show the entrance to the building destroyed by debris, with two bodies lying in a pool of blood on the snow-covered ground. Police forces have cordoned off the area as a criminal investigation begins.
Kirillov, a high-ranking officer in the Russian armed forces, oversaw units specializing in protection against radiation, chemical, and biological threats. These units play a crucial role in Russia’s military operations, particularly in environments contaminated by hazardous materials.
Alleged Use of Banned Chemical Weapons in Ukraine
Kirillov’s name had been in the spotlight earlier this week when Ukrainian prosecutors charged him, in absentia, for the alleged use of prohibited chemical weapons in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) stated that Kirillov was responsible for overseeing chemical warfare operations, including the deployment of banned substances.
The Russian government has denied these accusations. In October, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Kirillov and his units for their alleged role in using riot control agents and the toxic chemical chloropicrin in combat operations in Ukraine.
Kirillov’s death adds to the escalating tensions and incidents surrounding Russia’s controversial use of chemical weapons and other prohibited warfare tactics in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
