In a shocking incident early Tuesday morning, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Forces, was killed in an explosion outside a residential building on Ryazansky Prospekt in Moscow. The blast, reportedly caused by an explosive device concealed within an electric scooter, also claimed the life of his aide.
According to the Russian Investigative Committee, the explosion occurred as General Kirillov and his aide exited the building around 6 a.m. local time. Eyewitness accounts and preliminary reports indicate that the device detonated near the entrance, resulting in significant damage to the building and surrounding area. Forensic teams and emergency responders are currently investigating the scene.
This tragic event comes just one day after a Ukrainian court sentenced Kirillov in absentia for his involvement in deploying banned chemical weapons during military operations in Ukraine. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has accused him of overseeing more than 4,800 instances of chemical weapon use since the conflict began in February 2022. The United Kingdom had previously imposed sanctions on Kirillov for these allegations, condemning his role in facilitating the use of toxic agents such as chloropicrin in combat situations.
Kirillov had been a prominent figure in Russia's military strategy regarding chemical and biological defense since his appointment in 2017. He was known for public briefings that often included accusations against Western nations regarding alleged biological warfare activities in Ukraine.