A high-ranking Russian military general, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, has been killed in a deadly explosion outside his Moscow apartment.
The blast, believed to have been caused by a bomb hidden in an electric scooter, took place just moments after Kirillov, who was responsible for Russia’s nuclear and biological defense forces, emerged from his building.
The explosion also killed Kirillov’s assistant, identified only as Ilya P. The incident occurred on Ryazansky Prospekt, a street in Moscow, and is being investigated by the Russian authorities.
The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed both deaths and has launched a criminal investigation into the bombing.
The timing of the explosion is notable, coming just a day after the Ukrainian SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) accused Kirillov of overseeing the use of banned chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces.
Kirillov, who has been under international sanctions since 2017 for his role in the conflict, was charged in absentia by Ukraine for war crimes.
The Ukrainian security service claims that he was responsible for more than 4,800 instances of chemical weapon use by Russian forces since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
READ ALSO: Baby Caper Undergoes $5 Million Surgery Surgery to Remove Half of His Brain
Reports suggest the bomb, remotely detonated, caused an explosion equivalent to roughly 200 grams of TNT.
While no one has officially claimed responsibility for the attack, many speculate it may have been carried out by a Ukrainian hit squad in retaliation for the chemical weapon allegations.
Ukrainian officials have not yet confirmed or denied their involvement in the bombing.
Kirillov’s death marks a significant moment in the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, highlighting the growing risks and dangers faced by high-ranking Russian officials involved in the war.