Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, a senior Russian military figure in charge of the country’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Troops (RKhBZ), was killed in a targeted bomb explosion in Moscow.
Watch: Aftermath of Igor Kirillov bomb attack
Footage circulating online shows the aftermath of the explosion, which occurred outside a block of flats approximately 7km southeast of the Kremlin.
The video reveals the wreckage, damaged vehicles, and blood-stained snow near the site of the blast, a spine-chilling visual that underscores the force of the attack.
According to Russian authorities, the bomb was concealed inside an electric scooter and detonated as Kirillov and his assistant exited the building. Both men were killed instantly in the explosion.
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The blast, reported to have contained 300 grams of high explosive, caused significant damage to several cars and the first four floors of the apartment building. Russian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
Photos circulating on Russian Telegram channels show a chaotic scene, with debris scattered and an aerial shot of Kirillov’s lifeless body strewn across the snow.
Who was Igor Kirillov?
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov headed the Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Russian Armed Forces.
Known as RKhBZ, these specialised units are tasked with managing threats related to radioactive, chemical, and biological contamination.
Kirillov’s death comes amid rising tensions and accusations regarding Russia’s military tactics in Ukraine:
- Just one day before his death, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) accused Kirillov of using banned chemical weapons on the battlefield, particularly in heavily contested areas. Ukraine claims Russia attempted to conceal these operations under artillery fire.
- In October, the UK sanctioned Kirillov and the RKhBZ troops, citing their alleged use of toxic choking agents, such as chloropicrin, and accusing Kirillov of spreading Kremlin disinformation.
The targeted killing of a high-ranking military officer in Moscow, just a few kilometres away from the Kremlin, has sent ripples across the global political realm.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility, reports point to the likelihood of Ukrainian involvement amid the ongoing war.
