Top Russian General Accused Of War Crimes Killed In Explosive Attack In Moscow

A top Russian general accused of orchestrating the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine was killed in a bomb attack in Moscow on Tuesday, Russian investigators confirmed. The attack, swiftly claimed by Kyiv, marks a dramatic escalation in Ukraine’s targeted strikes on Russian military leadership.

Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, 54, who headed Russia’s Radiological, Biological, and Chemical Protection Forces, died after a remotely detonated bomb concealed in an electric scooter exploded outside a residential building, about 7 kilometers (4 miles) from the Kremlin. His assistant, Ilya Polikarpov, was also killed in the blast.

The explosion came just one day after Ukrainian prosecutors sentenced Kirillov in absentia for ordering the use of banned chemical weapons during Russia’s invasion. A source in Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) told CNN that the attack was part of an SBU operation.

“Kirillov was a war criminal and a legitimate target, as he ordered the use of banned chemical substances against Ukrainian forces,” the source stated. “Retribution for war crimes is inevitable.”

A Deadly Blast Caught on Camera

Footage obtained by CNN shows Kirillov and Polikarpov exiting the building moments before the explosion. As they approached their vehicle, the bomb detonated, creating a flash of light and killing both men instantly. Investigators reported that the bomb had the explosive power equivalent to 300 grams of TNT.

Russian authorities have launched a terrorism probe into the attack. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s SBU claimed that more than 4,800 incidents of Russian forces using chemical munitions under Kirillov’s orders have been documented since the war began. These weapons allegedly included tear gas and the banned substance chloropicrin, a chemical irritant outlawed under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Russia is a signatory.

A History of Sanctions and Allegations

Kirillov’s department had been sanctioned by both the United States and the United Kingdom for its alleged use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. Chloropicrin, a substance that causes severe irritation to the eyes, skin, throat, and lungs, was reportedly used to flush Ukrainian forces from fortified positions.

Kirillov also gained notoriety for spreading unfounded claims, accusing Ukraine of using chemical weapons and planning to detonate a radioactive “dirty bomb” on its own territory. He further alleged that Ukraine aimed to seize the Kursk nuclear power plant during its incursions into Russian territory.

Fallout in Moscow

The assassination of Kirillov is the latest in a series of targeted attacks on high-ranking Russian military officials. Last month, a senior Black Sea Fleet officer was killed in a car bombing in Crimea, which Ukraine’s SBU also claimed responsibility for.

In Moscow, the attack has sparked outrage among Russian officials. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, vowed retribution: “Everything must be done to destroy the perpetrators who are in Kyiv.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused the West of complicity, claiming their silence on such attacks amounted to tacit approval.

A Tactical Shift by Ukraine

Kirillov’s death underscores Ukraine’s growing focus on targeting senior Russian military leaders. Mark Galeotti, a prominent Russia analyst, described the strategy as a psychological blow to Russian elites rather than a direct impact on the war.

“This won’t change the war’s trajectory, but it sends a clear message that the invasion has a cost,” Galeotti said. He noted that many within Russia’s officer corps harbor discontent over the war, and such strikes add to their unease.

As Ukraine ramps up its precision strikes, the Kremlin faces an increasingly volatile and dangerous battlefield—both at the front lines and within its own borders.