Top Russian Commander Sanctioned Over Chemical Weapons Killed in Moscow Blast
Russia’s Lt General Igor Kirillov—the head of Russia's Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops—was killed in Moscow on the morning of December 17, along with his assistant. According to Russian state media, the explosion occurred outside an apartment building on Ryazansky Prospekt, southeast of the Kremlin. The device was reportedly planted inside a scooter parked near the building’s entrance.
If the circumstances sound bizarre, Russia's swift investigation made it even stranger.
Russia’s Miraculous Investigative Speed
In less than an hour of the explosion, Russian authorities had already:
Identified the bodies.
Determined that 200 grams of TNT had been used.
FSB-connected media had already blamed Ukraine, sticking to their tired playbook.
While forensic experts were allegedly still “on the scene”, another state-connected media outlet—one notorious for disseminating FSB messaging—quickly pinned the blame on Ukraine. It was as if the Kremlin’s propaganda machine was given its marching orders before the dust had settled.
Who is Kirillov?
In Ukraine, Kirillov was recently sentenced in absentia for war crimes, with Ukrainian prosecutors accusing him of orchestrating the use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine. These included chloropicrin, a toxic choking agent prohibited under international law. In October 2023, the UK also sanctioned Kirillov for his role in similar crimes.
But Kirillov’s role extended beyond the battlefield. As one of Russia’s top officials, he was a key propagandist, spreading countless conspiracy theories to justify the Kremlin’s aggression, genocide, and war crimes. From disinformation about “Ukrainian biolabs funded by the West” to accusations that NATO was ‘orchestrating’ chemical attacks on Russian troops, Kirillov’s speeches were full of propaganda and disinformation designed to sow fear and confusion.
His position as commander of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops (RKhBZ) placed him at the center of Moscow’s military operations under conditions of nuclear, biological, or chemical warfare—precisely the kind of tactics Russia stands accused of using in Ukraine.
Russia’s propaganda machine is skilled at turning explosions, assassinations, and even domestic chaos into tools for its own agenda.
Kirillov’s death may have been unexpected, but the Kremlin’s response? Predictably fast, predictably absurd, and predictably aimed at deflecting blame.
Not Ukraine
Not killed in a blast
Killed by assassination