Following the killing of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, Russia arrested an Uzbek man. Authorities accused him of planning the attack. Kirillov, who led Russia’s chemical protection forces, died in a scooter bombing outside his home.
The explosion happened shortly after Ukraine indicted Kirillov. Prosecutors also accused him of using banned chemical weapons. Russia claimed Ukraine’s SBU recruited the suspect. They allegedly promised him $100,000 and relocation to Europe. The suspect planted a homemade bomb on the scooter near Kirillov’s building.
Investigators said the suspect rented a car to watch Kirillov’s movements. He used surveillance equipment to monitor his residence. Organizers in Ukraine’s Dnipro triggered the bomb remotely. It exploded as Kirillov and his assistant left their building.
Kirillov, 54, was also the highest-ranking officer killed since Russia invaded Ukraine. His assassination, near the Kremlin, shook Moscow’s leadership. Ukraine’s SBU called the killing “retribution for war crimes.”
Experts believe the attack unnerved Russia’s elite. Nigel Gould-Davies noted the rare targeting of such a senior figure.
Russian media identified the suspect as Akhmad Kurbanov. Authorities also released a video of his confession. The circumstances of the video remain unclear. Kurbanov’s nationality may spark anti-immigrant backlash. Russia relies on Central Asian workers for its labor force.
The Kremlin condemned the bombing as terrorism. The SBU defended it as justice for war crimes. Kirillov’s death highlights Ukraine’s intensified efforts against Russia.
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