What happened
A remote-triggered bomb hidden in an electric scooter killed Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense Forces, outside an apartment in Moscow early Monday, Russia's Investigative Committee said. Kirillov's assistant was also killed in the blast, about 4 miles from the Kremlin.
Who said what
Ukraine's SBU security service charged Kirillov in absentia Monday with the "mass use of banned chemical weapons" on Ukrainian troops. The SBU alleged that, under Kirillov's leadership, Russia had used chemical weapons more than 4,800 times since February 2022. The U.S. and Britain have also accused Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine, notably the World War I–era toxic choking agent chloropicrin, and Kirillov had been under U.K. sanctions since October. Russia has denied using chemical weapons.
An SBU source confirmed the intelligence agency was responsible for Kirillov's "liquidation," Reuters said, making him the "most senior Russian military officer to be assassinated inside Russia by Ukraine."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Moscow holds Ukraine responsible for a "string of high-profile assassinations on its soil," and top security council official Dmitry Medvedev warned today that "Ukraine's military and political leadership now faced imminent revenge for Kirillov's murder," Reuters said, citing state media.
-
October 9 editorial cartoonsCartoons Thursday’s political cartoons include common political ground over the Epstein files, a new pledge for ICE agents, Bad Bunny, and more
-
Five policies from the Tory conferenceIn Depth Party leader Kemi Badenoch has laid out the Conservative plan for a potential future government
-
A House of Dynamite: a ‘nail-biting’ nuclear-strike thrillerThe Week Recommends ‘Virtuoso talent’ Kathryn Bigelow directs a ‘fast-paced’ and ‘tense’ ‘symphony of dread’
-
Israel intercepts 2nd Gaza aid flotilla in a weekSpeed Read The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of nine boats with 145 activists aboard along with medical and food aid
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime ministerSpeed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
Israel and Hamas meet on hostages, Trump’s planSpeed Read Hamas accepted the general terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, including the release of all remaining hostages
-
US tipped to help Kyiv strike Russian energy sitesSpeed Read Trump has approved providing Ukraine with intelligence for missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure
-
Netanyahu agrees to Trump’s new Gaza peace planSpeed Read At President Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they agreed upon a plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Moldova gives decisive win to pro-EU partySpeed Read The country is now on track to join the European Union within five years
-
UK, 3 Western allies recognize Palestinian stateSpeed Read Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognized the state of Palestine
