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The 29-year-old Uzbek national who was detained by Russian authorities admitted to being recruited by Ukrainian special forces, investigators said.
The incident has escalated accusations between Russia and Ukraine, with the Kremlin accusing Kyiv of direct involvement and calling the attack a “terrorist act.” The following seven details about the murder and the suspect should be noted:
- The Arrest of the Suspect
A 29-year-old Uzbek national has been detained by Russian authorities in relation to the murders of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his assistant, Ilya Polikarpov. The suspect admitted to having been “recruited by Ukrainian special forces,” according to the Investigative Committee. - The Attack and How It Happened
On Tuesday morning, a bomb hidden in an electric scooter exploded outside a residential building in Moscow, killing Kirillov, 54. According to Russian reports, the bomb was remotely detonated. Images from the scene showed shattered windows and scorch marks on the building. - Ukraine’s Alleged Involvement
Al Jazeera was informed by a source in the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) that the attack was carried out by the agency. Ukrainian authorities haven’t, however, released a formal statement regarding the incident. - FSB’s Claims Against the Suspect
Video of the suspect’s interrogation was made public by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), which warned that he could receive “a sentence of up to life imprisonment.” The suspect was allegedly offered $100,000 and relocation to a European Union nation in exchange for killing Kirillov, according to the FSB. - Details of the Operation
As directed by Ukrainian agents, the suspect allegedly went to Moscow, acquired a homemade explosive device, and installed it on an electric scooter. He rented a car to look around after dropping off the scooter close to Kirillov’s apartment complex. A camera was installed to livestream footage “to the attack organisers, in the [Ukrainian] city of Dnipro.” As Kirillov stepped out of the building, the bomb exploded. - The Kremlin’s Reaction
The Kremlin initially claimed that Ukraine had carried out a “terrorist attack” in its reaction to the incident. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson, said, “It is confirmed once more that the Kyiv regime does not shy away from terrorist methods.” - Who Was Igor Kirillov?
The head of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Troops since 2017, Kirillov was the highest-ranking Russian military officer killed on Russian territory. He was well-known for accusing Ukraine of using radioactive materials and toxic agents to plan attacks, but Ukraine and its allies rejected his accusations as propaganda. His murder is one of several high-profile killings that Russia has blamed on Ukraine since the war began.
