Russia’s security service has apprehended a 29-year-old Uzbek man in connection with the killing of senior general Igor Kirillov and his aide in Moscow.
Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, commander of the Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defence Forces (NBC), was outside a residential block early Tuesday when an explosive device placed in a scooter detonated remotely.
According to official media outlets, the Russian security service claimed the anonymous suspect was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence.
According to a source speaking with the BBC on Tuesday, Ukraine’s security service had already claimed responsibility for the death.
The Ukrainian source claimed Kirillov, Russia’s chemical weapons head, was “a legitimate target” and had committed war crimes.
Ukraine indicted Kirillov, 54, in absentia on Monday, the day before the death, claiming he was “responsible for the mass use of banned chemical weapons.”
Russia disputes the allegations. According to the Russian Federal Security Service’s (FSB) public relations centre, the 29-year-old was “suspected of committing a terrorist act” on Wednesday.
A statement said that during “interrogation he explained that he was recruited by the Ukrainian special services.”.
The FSB stated that the suspect had been “guaranteed” a $100,000 reward and freedom to relocate to the European Union in exchange for killing Kirillov.
According to the report, he travelled to Moscow on Ukraine’s instructions and was given a handmade bomb device.
According to the FSB, he placed the explosive device on an electric scooter and positioned it outside the door to Kirillov’s apartment building.
He then rented a car to observe Kirillov’s home and set up a camera to broadcast a video feed from the spot to his handlers in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.
The suspect detonated the explosive after seeing Kirillov exit from the residence, according to the statement.
Kirillov is believed to be the most senior military person slain within Russia since the country invaded Ukraine over three years ago.
Along with being accused by Ukraine, the 54-year-old was already sanctioned by the UK for allegedly using chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s SBU security service claims Russia deployed chemical weapons more than 4,800 times under the general’s supervision.
Moscow denies this, claiming that it destroyed the last of its enormous chemical weapons stockpile in 2017.
On Tuesday, pictures from the scene outside Kirillov’s apartment tower in southeastern Moscow showed the badly damaged entrance, which had scorch marks on the walls and some windows blown out. Two body bags were also observed on the roadway.
Also on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Russia would mention Kirillov’s assassination at the United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday.
Russian officials have vowed to find and punish those responsible for the death.
