Russia says suspect detained in killing of senior general in Moscow

Russian intelligence detains suspect in killing of general in Moscow, linking suspect to Ukrainian intelligence services.

A Russian intelligence agency said Wednesday (December 18, 2024) that it has detained a suspect in the killing of a senior general in Moscow.

The suspect was described as an Uzbek citizen recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) didn’t name the suspect, but said he was born in 1995. According to a statement by the FSB, the suspect said himself that he was recruited by Ukrainian special services.

Lt. General Igor Kirillov was killed on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) by a bomb hidden in a scooter outside his apartment building in Moscow, a day after Ukraine’s security service leveled criminal charges against him. A Ukrainian official said the service carried out the attack.

Mr. Kirillov was the chief of the military’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces. His assistant also died in the attack.

Igor Kirillov, 54, was under sanctions from several countries, including the U.K. and Canada, for his actions in Moscow's military operation in Ukraine. On Monday (December 16, 2024), Ukraine’s Security Service, or SBU, opened a criminal investigation against him, accusing him of directing the use of banned chemical weapons.

Russia has denied using any chemical weapons in Ukraine and, in turn, has accused Kyiv of using toxic agents in combat.