A 29-year-old Uzbek national has been detained by Russian authorities in connection with the assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, a high-ranking military officer responsible for Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Forces. The incident occurred on December 17, 2024, when a bomb concealed in an electric scooter exploded as Kirillov was leaving his apartment complex in southeastern Moscow, killing him and his aide, Ilya Polikarpov.
The Russian Investigative Committee reported that the suspect was allegedly recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services and promised a reward of $100,000 along with relocation to a European country for executing the assassination. The operation was reportedly coordinated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), which characterized Kirillov as a “war criminal” due to his involvement in the alleged use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces.
According to the FSB, the suspect surveilled Kirillov’s residence using a rented vehicle equipped with a camera that streamed live footage to operatives in Dnipro, Ukraine. The bomb was detonated remotely when Kirillov exited the building, marking one of the boldest attacks on a senior Russian military figure since the onset of the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Kirillov had been under scrutiny for his role in directing military operations involving prohibited munitions. Just one day before his assassination, he was convicted in absentia by Ukrainian prosecutors for these alleged war crimes. The Russian government has condemned the attack as a terrorist act and vowed retribution against those responsible.
In response to the assassination, Russian officials expressed outrage. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that it was “obvious” Ukraine was behind the killing, while Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, indicated that such acts would lead to inevitable consequences for Ukraine’s military leadership.
As investigations continue, Russian authorities are working to identify additional individuals involved in orchestrating this attack. The detained suspect faces severe penalties under Russian law, potentially including life imprisonment.
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