Russia’s security service says a 29-year-old man from Uzbekistan has been detained over the killing of Senior General Igor Kirillov, who was chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, and his assistant in Moscow.
Despite being from Uzbekistan, the unnamed suspect was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence, claims Russia. In a video published by Russia’s FSB, the purported suspect – a dark-haired man wearing handcuffs with what appears to be a visible rip in his coat – speaks directly to the camera, in which he says ay he was offered a reward of $100,000 and permission to move to the European Union in exchange for killing Kirillov. During interrogation, he explained that he was recruited by Ukrainian special services, reports Russia.
Indeed, a source in Ukraine’s SBU security service had previously said that Kirillov was “a legitimate target” and alleged he had carried out war crimes, leading Russia to use chemical weapons nearly 5,000 times — something Moscow denied. On Monday, the SBU charged Kirillov in absentia, saying on Telegram that he was “responsible for the mass use of banned chemical weapons”, while Moscow said it destroyed its stockpile in 2017 (the UK sanctioned Kirillov in October, after the USA accused Russia of violating international laws banning chemical weapons in May).
Igor Kirillov was promptly assassinated, and the Ukrainian government has not commented on his death.
This is quite an event, as Kirillov is the most senior military figure assassinated inside Russia in the last three years.
Over a week ago, another important weapons expert was shot dead outside of his Moscow home, while a senior naval officer and a prison boss died in car bomb explosions.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Russia would bring up Kirillov’s assassination at the meeting of the United Nations Security Council which will take place on Friday.
