Top Russian General killed in Moscow bomb blast: What we know about Igor Kirillov

In a shocking incident in Moscow, Russian General Igor Kirillov, who was responsible for overseeing Russia’s nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons in 2017, was killed in an explosion. 

Kirillov had also gained a reputation for spreading disinformation about these dangerous weapons over the years.

On Tuesday, residents in the Riazansky Prospekt area reported a loud explosion. 

When they looked outside, they saw two bodies lying on the ground. Later, Russian investigators confirmed the victims were General Igor Kirillov and his assistant, Ilya Polykarpov.

Details of the Explosion
Investigators revealed that the explosion was caused by a bomb placed on an electric scooter near the entrance to Kirillov’s apartment. 

The blast occurred as Kirillov and his assistant were leaving the building. 

The authorities believe the attackers had been monitoring his movements, as a surveillance camera had been set up on a nearby car just before the general left his house.

Russia’s Investigative Committee has now launched a criminal case, charging terrorism, murder, and illegal arms trafficking. 

Some Russian media sources, citing unnamed officials, believe Ukraine’s intelligence services could be behind the attack.

Reactions from Moscow and Kyiv
Russia has responded to the attack with strong statements. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said, "Kirillov had exposed Anglo-Saxon crimes for many years." 

Yevgeny Revenko, a member of Russia’s Duma, commented, "This attack reveals the criminal mindset of Ukraine’s leadership."

Meanwhile, Ukraine has firmly denied any involvement. Mikhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, said, "Ukraine had no part in this explosion." 

This denial comes just a day after Ukraine’s Secret Service (SBU) had accused Kirillov of ordering the use of chemical weapons against their military forces.

Kirillov’s Role in Russia’s Chemical Warfare
General Kirillov was appointed as the commander of Russia’s Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces in 2017. 

After a chemical attack in Syria that year, he became one of the main spokespersons for the Russian government on these issues.

While Western nations like the U.S., the U.K., and France blamed Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad for the attack, Kirillov defended the Syrian regime.

He claimed the chemical weapons accusations were fabricated and that toxic chemicals had been added to the samples from the site to frame Syria.

Despite his statements, no evidence ever supported his claims.

Kirillov remained vocal after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He repeatedly accused the U.S. of setting up laboratories in Ukraine to develop biological weapons aimed at Russia. 

At one point, he even claimed the U.S. planned to use drones to release mosquitoes carrying the yellow fever virus over Russian military positions.

However, Kirillov provided no proof for these claims.

Why Was Kirillov Targeted?
Experts have weighed in on why Kirillov may have been targeted in the attack. 

Hans-Henning Schwedda, a German political scientist who specializes in Russian affairs, believes that Kirillov’s role in spreading false information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine made him a target for Ukrainian intelligence. 

According to Schwedda, Kirillov wanted both Russian and international audiences to believe that Russia’s invasion was justified and that Ukraine posed a significant threat.

“Kirillov was likely targeted because of his ability to spread propaganda,” said Schwedda. 

“He wasn’t leading any military operations or deploying weapons, so there would have been no other reason for Ukrainian intelligence to be interested in him.”

Oleksii Melnyk, head of the Foreign Policy and International Security Program at Kyiv’s Razumkov Center, said, "Many media outlets have reported, citing SBU sources, that Ukraine’s security services were behind the attack. If this is true, it wouldn‍‍`t be classified as a terrorist attack but rather an act of sabotage.”

Melnyk further explained that during times of war, attacks on military officials are not uncommon. 

"This kind of act happens in war, and it’s not unusual for military officers to be targeted. This should be seen as sabotage, not terrorism," he added.