Ukraine calls Moscow general a ‘legitimate target’ after his death

Kirillov, head of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defence Forces, had been charged by Ukraine in absentia for overseeing the mass use of banned chemical weapons. Satellite images and reports show severe damage to the building, with body bags seen on the street. Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a case into the murder, while experts confirmed the blast came from an improvised explosive device (IED). The explosion, powerful enough to kill both Kirillov and his aide, left Moscow residents shocked.

This attack follows a series of high-profile assassinations linked to the ongoing war. Ukraine has increased its targeting of senior Russian figures, with reports of attacks on military experts and officials. In recent weeks, Russia has faced escalating casualties, with the deaths of key military officers from car bombings in occupied territories. Kirillov’s death marks a dramatic shift in the war’s reach, bringing it closer to Moscow.

The UK and the US had previously accused Kirillov of deploying chemical weapons against Ukraine, intensifying international condemnation. UK officials imposed sanctions on him, freezing his assets and barring travel. The SBU claims that Russia used chemical weapons on Ukrainian soldiers, causing numerous injuries and deaths.

The assassination is a stark reminder of the war’s brutal reality, which has now reached the Russian capital. For Muscovites like Liza, the violence feels much closer now, shaking the long-held perception that the war was a distant conflict.