Kirillov is the highest-ranking Russian military officer to be killed in a similar manner since Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to the news agency AFP. The second person killed was a close associate of Kirillov.
A homemade explosive device placed in an electric bicycle was behind Tuesday morning's explosion near the entrance to a residential building, according to the investigation committee. The building was also damaged, as shown in pictures in Russian media.
The explosive device was detonated remotely, writes the Russian state-controlled news agency Tass, citing information from the rescue service.
SBU is said to be behind
Sources within Ukraine's security service (SBU) tell AFP that they are taking responsibility for the attack.
The liquidation of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia's radiological, chemical and biological defense, was a special operation carried out by SBU, says the source.
Kirillov was a war criminal and a completely legitimate target, since he gave orders to use prohibited chemical weapons against the Ukrainian military.
The information has not been verified by independent sources.
On Monday, Ukrainian prosecutors formally accused Kirillov of using chemical weapons in Ukraine, writes The Kyiv Independent. According to SBU, chemical weapons have been used in over 4,800 Russian attacks since the full-scale war began in 2022.
Criminal investigation initiated
A criminal investigation into Tuesday's deadly explosion has been initiated, announces a spokesperson for the investigation committee, according to Tass. Police are working on the scene.
Igor Kirillov had held his post since 2017. In October this year, the UK decided to impose sanctions on him due to allegations that Russia had used chemical weapons in Ukraine. Russia has denied the allegations.
Both the UK and the US have accused Russia of using the highly toxic nerve agent chlorpikrin against Ukrainian soldiers, in violation of the Convention on Chemical Weapons (CWC). The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) explicitly prohibits the use of chlorpikrin.
