Moscow bombing of Lt. General. Igor Kirilov and his assistant Ilya Polikarpov by a remote-detonated bomb concealed within an electric scooter
Moscow bombing of Lt. General. Igor Kirilov and his assistant Ilya Polikarpov by a remote-detonated bomb concealed within an electric scooter. ABC News
(The Post News)- In earlty hours of Tuesday, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia’s radiological, biological, and chemical protection forces, was decisively in a bold bombing outside a residential building southeast of the Kremlin. Ukrainian officials have swiftly claimed responsibility for this strategic attack, framing it as retribution for Kirillov’s involvement in the alleged use of chemical weapons during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed that Kirillov and his assistant, Ilya Polikarpov, were eliminated by a remotely detonated bomb concealed within an electric scooter. The explosion, equivalent to 300 grams of TNT, caused significant damage near Ryazansky Street, marking a dramatic escalation in the conflict.
This assassination follows Ukrainian prosecutors’ sentencing of Kirillov in absentia for ordering the deployment of banned chemical munitions, including irritant-laced grenades, against Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian security service (SBU) labeled Kirillov as “a war criminal,” emphasizing that retribution for his actions is both necessary and unavoidable.
At 54, Kirillov is the most senior Russian military figure to be killed since the war erupted in February 2022. His department has been sanctioned by the U.S. and U.K. for utilizing chloropicrin, a chemical weapon prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
In a swift response, Russian officials have condemned the attack and vowed to retaliate with force. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has called for the outright “elimination” of those responsible in Kyiv. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, has accused the West of tacitly endorsing this assault, asserting that silence on this matter constitutes complicity.
This killing highlights the expanding reach of Ukraine’s military operations, following a series of high-profile assassinations, including a recent car bombing in Crimea. Analysts assert that such strikes are aimed at destabilizing Russia’s elite, serving as a stark reminder of the personal risks involved in supporting the war.
In Moscow, the attack has shattered the illusion of distance from the conflict. Local residents nearby expressed shock and anxiety, with one stating, “Until now, the war felt distant. Now it feels alarmingly close to home.”
President Vladimir Putin has not yet made a statement but is anticipated to address this significant incident during his upcoming annual press conference.
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