Official announcements from Russian law enforcement agencies or reputable news outlets

Russian Chemical Defense Chief Killed in Moscow Bombing

Dec 17, 2024, 05:39 AM

On December 17 at around 6 am, an explosion occurred on Ryazansky Prospekt in Moscow, resulting in the deaths of two people, including Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia's radiation, chemical, and biological defense forces, and his assistant, identified as Ilya P. The explosive device, equivalent to approximately 200 grams of TNT, was concealed in an electric scooter near the entrance of an apartment building. The powerful blast caused damage to nearby buildings, shattering windows and doors. Russian authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the incident, and emergency services are on the scene. The explosion occurred a day after Ukrainian prosecutors charged Kirillov with the use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine.