A bomb hidden in an electric scooter murdered Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his aide Tuesday morning. Kirillov was a crucial member of the Russian army’s nuclear, chemical, and biological defense divisions. The explosion happened in Moscow, approximately four kilometers from the Kremlin, outside a residential building.
According to preliminary assessments, the explosive device was remotely detonated in a premeditated and targeted act, prompting the Russian Investigative Committee to open a criminal probe. The blast wave was aimed toward the entryway Kirillov left through, and the bomb’s force was equivalent to 300 grams of TNT, according to TASS.
Kirillov’s death has raised suspicions of a broader conspiracy. His assassination comes a day after Ukrainian prosecutors charged him in absentia for ordering chemical attacks against Kyiv forces. Reports allege that Russian troops used chemical munitions, including the toxic agent chloropicrin and K-1 combat grenades, 4,800 times under his command, causing severe chemical poisoning among Ukrainian forces.
The attack has drawn significant attention from Russian officials. Investigators, emergency responders, and Interior Ministry personnel are actively working at the scene. Moscow authorities have initiated a manhunt for the perpetrator, with sources indicating that the bomb was specifically designed to target Kirillov.
Kirillov was a divisive character who was accused of disseminating Kremlin propaganda and sanctioned by the UK in October 2024 for permitting the use of chemical weapons. His passing complicates the already complicated situation between Russia and Ukraine.
The Kremlin has not yet issued official statements regarding the incident, and Ukraine has not asserted responsibility. Nonetheless, tensions in the continuing conflict are probably going to increase as a result of the murder of such a well-known military figure. Now, everyone is waiting to see how Russian President Vladimir Putin will react to this well-publicized murder.
