Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia's Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops, was killed Tuesday in a bomb explosion outside his Moscow apartment. The attack, claimed by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), occurred just one day after Ukrainian authorities launched a criminal investigation against him for alleged chemical weapons use.

Kirillov, 54, who had led Russia's nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces since 2017, was targeted by an explosive device hidden in a scooter. The blast, which was reportedly triggered remotely, also claimed the life of his assistant and caused significant damage to the surrounding area, including shattered windows and scorched brickwork.

An SBU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the agency's involvement in the attack, describing Kirillov as a 'war criminal and an entirely legitimate target.' The general had been under international sanctions from several countries, including the United Kingdom and Canada, for his role in Moscow's war in Ukraine.

The timing of the attack is notable, as it followed the SBU's criminal investigation launch against Kirillov regarding the alleged direction of banned chemical weapons use in Ukraine. The security service claims to have documented over 4,800 instances of Russian chemical weapons deployment since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The U.S. State Department has corroborated some of these claims, specifically noting the use of chloropicrin, a World War I-era poison gas, against Ukrainian troops.

Russia's top investigative agency has classified Kirillov's death as a terrorism case, with Russian officials promising retaliation. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council, characterized the attack as a Kyiv attempt to deflect attention from military setbacks and promised 'inevitable retribution' against Ukraine's military-political leadership.

This incident marks the latest in a series of targeted attacks against prominent Russian figures since the war's onset. Previous casualties include Darya Dugina, daughter of a Kremlin-linked ideologue, military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, and former Ukrainian lawmaker Illia Kiva, who had aligned with Moscow.