Top Russian general Igor Kirillov, who was accused by Ukraine of carrying out the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops, was assassinated in Moscow. Ukraine's SBU intelligence service on Tuesday morning took responsibility for the high-profile killing.
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who was the head of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed outside an apartment complex when a bomb that was hidden in a two-wheeler vehicle exploded, as stated by Russia's Investigative Committee, which probes serious crimes. Kirillov’s assistant was also killed in the blast.
Previously, as per an AP news report, Kirillov had levelled allegations against US President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden, stating that Hunter was involved in the financing of biological laboratories in Ukraine.
An SBU source told agencies that the Ukrainian intelligence agency had been behind the attack. "The liquidation of the chief of the radiation and chemical protection troops of the Russian Federation is the work of the SBU," the source said.
The source confirmed that explosives hidden inside a scooter were detonated, killing both Kirillov and his aide as they walked out of a building in Moscow.
Unverified video footage of the attack was seen circulating on social media. The clip showed two men exiting the building to get into a car followed by a large explosion as the two men remained on the pavement. The authenticity of this video is yet to be verified.
Kirillov, 54, is the most senior Russian military officer to be assassinated inside Russia by Ukraine and his murder is likely to prompt the Russian authorities to review security protocols for the army's top brass.
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