Ukrainian forces allegedly target and kill Russian general Kirillov

Early on December 17, one of the most senior and influential generals of the Russian Federation was killed in an explosion in Moscow. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of Russia’s Armed Forces, died along with his driver in the attack.

According to the investigation, the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted on a scooter parked at the entrance of a residential building in the Ryazansky district of Moscow. The homemade device detonated just as the general and his assistant were about to enter his home on Ryazansky Prospekt.

The explosion, which contained an estimated charge of 300 grams of TNT according to TASS news agency, shattered the entrance door and windows of the building, as well as damaging the general’s service vehicle. Other sources have provided different estimates for the amount of TNT, reporting it as between 100 and 200 grams.

The Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee for Moscow has launched a criminal case over the murder of two servicemen. Investigators, criminologists, and special services are working at the scene, with investigative measures and operational search activities currently underway to determine the circumstances of the crime.

While the Ukrainian side has not issued an official statement on the explosion, Ukrainian Telegram channels have claimed that Kirillov was responsible for giving direct orders to use chemical weapons in the war, which has led to allegations of war crimes. One day before the incident, the Ukrainian security service declared Kirillov a suspect in absentia in a criminal case. Ukrainian special services have accused him of ordering the use of more than 4,800 banned chemical weapons in Ukraine's southern and eastern regions since the start of Russia’s large-scale offensive.

Sources from the Ukrainian security service, cited by the BBC, referred to the attack as a "special operation." The source claimed that Lieutenant General Kirillov was a legitimate target due to his role in authorizing the use of banned chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces.

“Kirillov was a war criminal and a completely legitimate target. Because he ordered the use of banned chemical weapons against the Ukrainian military. Such a cruel fate awaits anyone who kills Ukrainians,” the source stated.

Lieutenant General Kirillov, 54, had been scheduled to attend a Defense Ministry briefing on the day of the attack. Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he had been a regular speaker at military briefings. He had made controversial claims during these briefings, such as accusing the United States of operating secret bio laboratories in Ukraine to develop viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. He also alleged that the U.S. was working on a plan to deliver virus-carrying mosquitoes via drones to target enemy soldiers.

Kirillov was known for his statements that outbreaks of bird flu in Russia were linked to the migration of infected birds from Ukraine. A graduate of the Russian Military Academy of Chemical Defense, he headed the academy until 2017 before being appointed chief of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces.

As of now, there has been no official response from Kyiv regarding the incident. However, Ukrainian security sources have not denied involvement in the attack. Instead, they have called it a "special operation" against a key figure allegedly responsible for war crimes against Ukraine.