A senior Russian general overseeing nuclear protection forces in Moscow has been killed in a bomb attack involving an electric scooter, Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed.

Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the Troops of Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defence, died on Tuesday outside an apartment building on Ryazansky Prospekt. According to TASS, citing a law enforcement official, the explosive device used in the attack contained about 300 grams of TNT equivalent.

“Igor Kirillov, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological protection forces of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, and his assistant were killed,” the investigative committee said

Images shared on Russian Telegram channels depicted a scene of devastation, with the entrance to the building destroyed and two bodies lying in blood-stained snow. A criminal investigation has been launched into the incident.

Russia’s Troops of Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defence are specialized forces trained to operate in environments contaminated by radioactive, chemical, and biological agents.

Kirillov had been a controversial figure, accused by Ukraine of using chemical weapons during the ongoing conflict that began in February 2022. Just a day before his death, a Ukrainian court sentenced him in absentia for these actions.

His role as a spokesperson for the Kremlin’s military operations and his involvement in chemical warfare made him a target for Ukrainian operatives. This assassination highlights the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine and demonstrates Ukraine’s capability to strike at high-ranking Russian officials within their own territory.

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