Russia announced on Wednesday the detention of an Uzbek man who confessed to planting and detonating the bomb that killed Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Troops. Russia’s Investigative Committee stated the suspect admitted to carrying out the attack on orders from Ukraine’s intelligence services.
Kirillov and his assistant were killed on Tuesday outside his Moscow apartment when an explosive device concealed in an electric scooter detonated.
Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service claimed responsibility for the killing, accusing Kirillov of orchestrating chemical weapon attacks against Ukrainian forces—a charge Moscow denies. Kirillov is the most senior Russian military officer to have been assassinated within Russia during the ongoing conflict.
According to investigators, the man traveled to Moscow, purchased an electric scooter, and installed an improvised explosive device. He allegedly parked the scooter near Kirillov’s apartment building and used a surveillance camera to monitor the location remotely, with Ukrainian operatives in Dnipro overseeing the operation.
In a video released by Baza, a Russian outlet with ties to law enforcement, the suspect described how he executed the attack. Speaking from a van, he claimed he detonated the bomb remotely when Kirillov exited the building. He also alleged that Ukraine offered him $100,000 and residency in a European country for carrying out the operation.
Russian investigators reported they are pursuing other individuals involved in the plot. Kommersant newspaper reported the detention of another suspect, though this has not been independently verified.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, condemned the assassination and pledged to address it at the United Nations Security Council on December 20. “We see that the Kyiv regime has taken responsibility once again for a new terrorist attack,” Zakharova said, blaming the United States and Britain for supporting Ukraine. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized Western support for Ukraine, warning that the logic behind justifying such killings could make Western officials legitimate targets for Russia.
