Russian General Wanted by Ukraine for Chemical Weapons Use Killed in Moscow Blast

According to Russian authorities, a bomb that was detonated remotely in Moscow on Tuesday was responsible for the death of a Russian general who was wanted by Ukraine for involvement in the use of chemical weapons.

According to Russia’s investigation committee, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who was in charge of Russia’s nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces, was killed by an explosive device that was planted in an electric scooter outside of an apartment building around seven kilometers (four miles) southeast of the Kremlin.

The committee went on to say that the explosion was a “terrorist act” and that it also claimed the life of Kirillov’s aide after it occurred.

The committee stated that a criminal investigation into the deaths is currently being conducted, and they added that detectives, forensic experts, and operational personnel are currently performing their duties at the scene.

According to the statement made by the committee, “operative search activities and investigative actions are currently being carried out in order to establish all of the circumstances surrounding the crime.”

Two victims were seen lying in the snow in videos that were uploaded to Russian Telegram channels. The videos showed emergency service officers strolling outside of a structure that had a smashed entrance and was covered with rubble within it.

According to the Russian state news agency TASS, the explosive device, which was detonated remotely, had a power equivalent to around 300 grams of TNT.

A cordon has been placed around the location where the explosion occurred, as reported by TASS.

The murder of Kirillov occurred one day after Ukrainian prosecutors filed a charge against the general in absentia, accusing him of using prohibited chemical weapons during the conflict and war on Ukraine. Since the commencement of the conflict, the Security Service of Ukraine has documented more than 4,800 instances of Russian deployment of chemical weapons on orders from Kirillov. These incidents have occurred since the beginning of the conflict.

In addition, the United Kingdom had imposed sanctions on Kirillov for the “abhorrent use of inhumane chemical weapons” that he had committed on the battlefield in Ukraine.

In October, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office issued a statement in which it announced the imposition of sanctions, stating that Kirillov was “responsible for helping deploy these barbaric weapons.” Furthermore, the general was accused of being “a significant mouthpiece for Kremlin disinformation” and of disseminating lies in order to conceal Russia’s behavior that is both disgraceful and dangerous at the same time.