Il General Igor Kirillov, commander of the Russian nuclear, chemical and biological defense troops, was killed on December 17 in an attack in Moscow, along with his assistant. The explosion, attributed to a explosive device hidden in a scooter electric and remotely activated, occurred near a residential building on Ryazansky Avenue.
According to Russian authorities, the device contained approximately 300 grams of explosive material equivalent to TNT. Images from the scene show the building's damaged entrance, shattered windows and scattered debris, while witnesses described a deafening roar.
The Russian Investigative Committee has criminal investigation launched, classifying the event as a act of terrorism of Ukrainian origin. Shortly after Kiev has claimed responsibility of the attack through military intelligence, calling Kirillov a “legitimate objective” for his alleged involvement in the use of banned chemical weapons in the war in Ukraine. Just the day before, the general had been convicted by a Ukrainian court for crimes related to the use of these weapons.
Kiev's claim
The Ukrainian secret services (SBU) have therefore claimed responsibility for the attack: “Kirillov was a war criminal and a completely legitimate target since he gave the order to use prohibited chemical weapons against the Ukrainian army. Such an inglorious end awaits all those who kill Ukrainians. Punishment for war crimes is inevitable.” According to Kiev, the general ordered the use of prohibited chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces, leading to more than 4.800 documented incidents of chemical attacks since the beginning of the conflict.
Kirillov's killing comes the day after the General's conviction in absentia by a Ukrainian court for theuse of banned chemical weapons.
Moscow's reaction: "Imminent revenge against Kiev"
The Russian leadership reacted harshly. Dmitry Medvedev, vice-president of the Security Council, promised a “Imminent Revenge” Against Kiev, accusing Ukraine of carrying out attacks that he called cowardly and deplorable. “Realizing the inevitability of its military defeat,” Medvedev said, “Kiev launches cowardly and despicable attacks against peaceful cities”.
Maria Zakharova, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, praised General Igor Kirillov, highlighting his role in denunciation of “NATO provocations” and “Lethal Activities of American Biolaboratories in Ukraine".
“Igor Kirillov has systematically reported for years the crimes of the Anglo-Saxons, with concrete evidence: NATO provocations with chemical weapons in Syria, the UK's manipulations with banned chemicals, the Salisbury and Amesbury incidents, and the lethal activities of US biolaboratories in Ukraine. He worked without fear, without hiding behind others,” he wrote Zakharova on Telegram.
Who was Igor Kirillov?
Igor Kirillov, born July 13, 1970 (age 54) in Kostroma, a river city in western Russia, was a prominent figure in the Russian Armed Forces. Since 2017, he held the role of Commander of the Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces. Having graduated from the School of Chemical Defense of the Higher Military Command of his city, Kirillov carried out important roles in Germany and various Russian military districts, earning a reputation for his work on the TOS-2 Tosochka heavy flamethrower system.
His career has been tainted by accusations of war crimes. The UK had sanctioned him for the alleged use of chemical weapons such as the chloropicrin, against Ukrainian troops, and for being a “major mouthpiece for Kremlin disinformation.”
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