Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces (RChBZ), was killed on Tuesday morning in a blast in southeast Moscow.
Investigators report that an explosive device, concealed in a scooter near the entrance of a residential building, detonated, killing Kirillov and his aide. The incident occurred just one day after Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) formally declared him a suspect in the alleged use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces.
Kirillov, a prominent figure in Russia’s defense establishment, had led the RChBZ since 2017 and played a key role in both anti-terror operations and responses to radiological and chemical incidents.
Known for his claims of Ukrainian biolaboratories studying dangerous pathogens and accusations of Western-backed false-flag operations, Kirillov frequently briefed on Russia’s military operations since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
He rejected allegations of Russia using chemical weapons, referencing the 2017 OPCW confirmation of Russia’s complete chemical weapons stockpile destruction.
His death raises new tensions amid ongoing accusations between Russia and Ukraine, particularly as the SBU’s formal charges add a geopolitical layer to his sudden and violent demise.
Kirillov’s statements, including accusations of hazardous materials being imported into Ukraine and claims of NATO’s over-supply of chemical protective gear, drew international attention. His killing follows a series of escalations, including UK sanctions in October 2024 over his claims of Ukraine preparing false-flag chemical attacks.
Russian Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense chief, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, was killed by an IED outside a residential building in Moscow, but who was he, and why was he a target for assassination? pic.twitter.com/EQp4vlchb3
— RT (@RT_com) December 17, 2024
