Ukraine’s Security Service Kills Russian General Igor Kirillov in Moscow Attack

Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, has claimed responsibility for the killing of Russian Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, commander of the Russian Armed Forces’ chemical, biological, and radiation defense troops, in a special operation in Moscow on Tuesday. A source inside the SBU confirmed that Kirillov, along with his assistant, was killed when an explosive device attached to a scooter detonated outside an apartment building in southeastern Moscow.

Kirillov, who had been sanctioned by the UK in October over the alleged use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, was charged by Ukrainian authorities in absentia for war crimes. The SBU described him as a legitimate target due to his role in authorizing the use of banned chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces.

This marks the highest-ranking Russian military official targeted within Russian territory during the ongoing conflict. The SBU source emphasized that the operation was part of a broader effort to hold war criminals accountable, stating, “Retribution for war crimes is inevitable.”

The killing follows other high-profile attacks, including the recent death of pro-Moscow Ukrainian lawmaker Illia Kiva and a car bombing targeting Sergei Yevsyukov, former head of the Olenivka Prison. The Ukrainian military intelligence has warned that further retribution awaits those seen as betraying Ukraine.