Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the Commander of the Russian Armed Force’s Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defence Unit, as well as one of his Deputies, were Killed in a Bombing earlier tonight at the entrance to an Apartment Building in the Ryazansky District of Moscow. The explosion, which occurred just as Kirillov was leaving his apartment building, has left many questioning the safety and security of even the highest-ranking officials in Russia.
Russian Investigative Committee wrote in a telegram post, “According to the investigation, on the morning of December 17, an explosive device, planted in a scooter parked next to the entrance of a residential building, was detonated on Ryazansky Prospekt in Moscow.
As a result of the incident, the head of the radiation, chemical, and biological defense troops of the armed forces of Russia, Igor Kirillov, and his assistant were killed.”
Kirillov, the head of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Troops, was appointed in 2017. General Kirillov played an essential role in the development of the TOS-2 Tosochka heavy flamethrower system and was recently charged in absentia by Ukraine for alleged war crimes involving chemical weapons. His death comes just a day after these charges were made public, leading to rampant speculation about the timing and motives behind the attack.
According to the Russian Investigative Committee, a criminal case has been opened in connection with the incident in Moscow.
The blast, reportedly caused by an improvised explosive device hidden in an electric scooter positioned at the entrance of the house, has all the hallmarks of a meticulously planned assassination.
The device, estimated to have the explosive power of 200 grams of TNT, was detonated remotely, causing extensive damage to the building and shattering windows up to the third floor. Local residents described the scene as chaotic, with emergency services rushing to contain the aftermath.
Kirillov’s tenure was marked by his verbal accusations against the West, arguing that biological weapons were being developed to target Russian troops. His proclamations about Western bio-laboratories and their alleged role in spreading infectious diseases, including COVID-19, were often dismissed as propaganda. Yet, his influence within the Russian military was undeniable, making his sudden and violent death all the more significant.
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that General Kirillov had systemically and fearlessly exposed the terrible crimes of the NATO provocations and Anglo-Saxons. Konstantin Kosachev, deputy speaker of Russia’s upper house of parliament, said: “The death of Kirillov is an irreparable loss, his killers will be punished.”
As the investigation unfolds, questions overflow: Was this a targeted hit by Ukrainian operatives, as some sources suggest? Or could it be an internal power struggle within the Russian military?
