Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who led Russia’s chemical, biological, and radiation defense forces, along with his assistant, tragically lost their lives in an explosion in Moscow. This unfortunate incident occurred just one day after Kirillov was criminally charged by Ukraine’s Security Services.
According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, the explosion took place when an explosive device, concealed in a scooter near a residential building on Ryazansky Avenue, was detonated remotely. This detail was reported by The Associated Press.
The bomb had the power of roughly 300 grams of TNT, according to Russian state news agency Tass.
Reports from Reuters indicate that Ukraine’s Security Services, also referred to as the SBU, have claimed responsibility for orchestrating the attack on Kirillov. Fox News Digital has reached out to the intelligence agency to verify this claim.
Kirillov was charged by the SBU on Monday with using banned chemical weapons on the battlefield. Several countries had also placed him under sanctions for his role in the war against Ukraine, The AP reported.
The deadly blast took place outside a residential building on Ryazansky Avenue in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday. (ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images)
The SBU said it has recorded more than 4,800 uses of chemical weapons during Russia’s attack on Ukraine, which began in Feb. 2022.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This report has been updated to identify Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov as the commander of Russia’s chemical, biological and radiation defense forces.
