Igor Kirillov and his assistant were killed this Tuesday morning in Moscow, during a violent explosion in a residential area. The Ukrainian security services claim responsibility for the attack against this general, whom they accuse of “war crimes” for his use of chemical weapons on the front.
On the front, the fighting rages. In Russian cities, where life goes on, too. After the death of Mikhail Shatsky, a Russian scientist specializing in missiles and their modernization near Moscow more than a week ago, Russia has lost another senior official within its army.
Igor Kirillov, “the commander of the Russian radiological, chemical and biological defense forces,” as the Russian Investigative Committee described him, was killed in a violent explosion in Moscow on Tuesday. Very quickly, the assassination was claimed by the Ukrainian security services.
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Top Russian military official killed since offensive
In a press release retrieved by AFP, the Russian Committee mentions “an explosive device placed in a scooter parked near the entrance to a residential building” which was activated “in the morning on Ryazansky Avenue in Moscow”.
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In addition to Igor Kirillov, his assistant was also killed during the attack. Last October, the 54-year-old general was sanctioned by London for the alleged deployment of chemical weapons in Ukraine.
His death marks a turning point in the war between Ukraine and Russia. Since the start of the Kremlin offensive in February 2022, it is the highest official of the Russian army who has been killed by kyiv.
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Accused of “war crimes” by Ukraine
The Ukrainian security services, which claimed responsibility for his assassination, accused Igor Kirillov of being the author of “war crimes” for having ordered the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops.
Since February 2022, more than 4,800 cases of use of “chemical munitions” by the Russian army have been recorded, the Ukrainians assured, according to whom “more than 2,000 soldiers” had to be hospitalized with varying degrees of poisoning. chemical over the same period.
On the Russian side, the authorities have always rejected these accusations, calling them “absurd”.
“The murderers will be punished”
This Tuesday, a few hours after the assassination of Igor Kirillov, a minute of silence was observed in the Duma, the lower house of Parliament.
The murderers will be punished, without doubt and without mercy
Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, upper house of Parliament
Western chancelleries, for their part, barely reacted. “We will not mourn the death of an individual who took part in an illegal invasion and imposed suffering and death on the Ukrainian people,” a British government spokesperson said.
For its part, Washington, through the voice of a senior official, indicated this Tuesday evening that it had not “been informed” in advance and “does not support” this type of operation.
