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Chief of Russian chemical defense forces killed in Moscow blast – officials Chief of Russian chemical defense forces killed in Moscow blast
(31 minutes later)
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was one of two victims of the explosion near a residential buildingLieutenant General Igor Kirillov was one of two victims of the explosion near a residential building
An explosion near a residential building in southeastern Moscow has killed two people, including Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia’s Radiological Chemical and Biological Defense Forces, officials have confirmed. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces, has been killed along with his deputy in a bomb blast in southeastern Moscow early on Tuesday, officials have confirmed.
In a statement in the early hours of Tuesday, the Investigative Committee said the blast was caused by a remotely controlled improvised explosive device attached to an electric scooter parked near the entrance. It added that it killed both Kirillov and his aide. Earlier media reports claimed that the device was detonated as the two were leaving the building. The explosion occurred around 6am outside a residential building on Ryazansky Avenue as Kirillov and his aide were leaving the premises to board an official vehicle.
The Russian authorities have opened a criminal case, the committee said, adding that the investigation is underway. Russian investigators said an improvised explosive device (IED) packed with about 300 grams of TNT was likely attached to an electric scooter near the building’s entrance. It was possibly detonated remotely, likely by a radio signal or mobile phone.
The 54-year-old general led the Radiological Chemical and Biological Defense Forces since 2017 and came to prominence as the military official who often presented reports accusing Ukraine and the US, Kiev’s main backer, of using chemical weapons on the battlefield. He also reported on evidence of the US operating a widespread network of biolaboratories in Ukraine and elsewhere, which he said is a major threat to the civilian population. The blast shattered windows, damaged the building’s entrance, and destroyed the parked vehicle. Authorities have opened a criminal investigation under charges of murder, terrorism, and illegal weapons trafficking. Russia’s Investigative Committee chief, Aleksandr Bastrykin, has taken personal control of the case.
Kirillov was killed in the blast one day after Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) formally declared him a suspect in a case focusing on Moscow’s alleged use of chemical weapons against Kiev’s military. Russia has denied using chemical weapons on the battlefield, arguing that it had destroyed these weapons in 2017. Investigators suspect Ukrainian special services orchestrated the attack, Moscow daily Kommersant reports, citing Kirillov’s prominence as a likely motive. He regularly appeared at military briefings, accusing Kiev and the US of operating biolaboratories and using chemical weapons. Ukrainian prosecutors had declared Kirillov a suspect in alleged chemical weapons use the day before the attack.
Kommersant described the incident as an “unprecedented crime.” The investigative team is analyzing surveillance footage and mobile phone data from the area to track potential suspects, it added.
Kirillov, 54, led Russia’s chemical, biological, and radiological defense forces since 2017. In October, the UK sanctioned him over claims of chemical weapons use in Ukraine, accusations Moscow has consistently denied. It insists it destroyed such materials back in 2017.
The blast came hours after President Vladimir Putin outlined how Russian forces hold the upper hand on the battlefield against Ukraine, in a landmark Moscow speech on Monday.
Investigators are considering whether the attack was intended to coincide with the major annual Ministry of Defense meeting, Russian media outlets report. Officials believe the perpetrators were likely paid for their involvement.
The Kremlin has yet to issue a public statement on the assassination.