The Investigative Committee of Russia reported the arrest of a suspect in the murder of General Igor Kirillov, the head of the Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops, along with his assistant. It is claimed that the individual in question is a 29-year-old citizen of Uzbekistan who was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services for a reward.
After interrogation, the investigation revealed that the man placed an improvised explosive device on a scooter near General Kirillov's apartment building and also rented a car from a car-sharing service, where he installed a surveillance camera. The footage was allegedly streamed to the organizers of the attack in Dnipro. After receiving a video signal indicating Kirillov's departure from his home with a companion, the detained individual remotely detonated the explosive device. The Investigative Committee states that the executor was promised $100,000 for the attack, along with relocation to the EU.
Igor Kirillov and his assistant were killed on December 17 as a result of an explosion near his residence on Ryazansky Avenue in Moscow. Ukrainian media, citing sources in intelligence services, reported that the elimination of the Russian general was orchestrated by the Security Service of Ukraine.
"Kirillov was a war criminal and a completely legitimate target, as he issued orders to use prohibited chemical weapons against Ukrainian soldiers," quoted a source from the intelligence services by "Ukrainian Truth".
Officially, Kyiv has not commented on Kirillov's murder. Representatives of the U.S. administration emphasized that Washington was unaware of the preparation for the attack and does not support such methods.