A senior Russian military official was killed in an explosion on Tuesday when an explosive device hidden in a scooter detonated outside a building in southeastern Moscow, investigators confirmed.
The blast claimed the life of Igor Kirillov, the commander of Russia’s armed forces’ chemical, biological, and radiation defense troops, along with his deputy.
“An explosive device planted in a scooter parked near the entrance of a residential building was activated on the morning of December 17 on Ryazansky Avenue in Moscow,” said the Russian Investigative Committee, the agency responsible for major investigations in the country.
The explosion shattered several windows of the building and severely damaged its front door, with images published by Russian media showing the extent of the damage.
Kirillov, who had held his post since 2017, was sanctioned by Britain in October over the alleged use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.
The attack comes as Moscow’s so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine approaches its third anniversary.
