MOSCOW: A bomb hidden in an electric scooter has claimed the life of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the chief of Russia's nuclear protection forces, in Moscow. The explosion occurred on December 17, outside an apartment building on Ryazansky Prospekt, marking a deadly attack on one of the country's top military officials.

Kirillov, who headed the Troops of Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defence (RChBD), was killed alongside his assistant as they exited the building in southeastern Moscow. According to Russia's Investigative Committee, the explosive device was planted in a scooter parked near the building's entrance.

Images shared on Russian Telegram channels showed the devastation caused by the blast. The front door of the building was severely damaged, and windows were shattered, with two bodies found on the snow-covered ground, surrounded by debris and blood.

The explosion comes as tensions remain high amid Russia's ongoing military operations in Ukraine. Just the day before, Ukrainian prosecutors charged Kirillov in absentia for allegedly using banned chemical weapons in the conflict. The Security Service of Ukraine stated that the charges were related to his involvement in chemical warfare. However, Russia denies these accusations.

The British government also sanctioned Kirillov and the nuclear protection forces in October, citing their use of riot control agents and reports of chloropicrin, a toxic choking agent, being deployed on the battlefield.

The Russian military's RKhBZ forces, which Kirillov commanded, are specially trained to operate in environments contaminated by radioactive, chemical, and biological agents. They play a critical role in safeguarding the country from such threats.

Following the attack, Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation, and a police cordon was established around the scene of the explosion. The incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by high-ranking military officials amid Russia's military actions.

The Ukrainian charges against Kirillov were filed in absentia, and the Security Service of Ukraine confirmed the development, as reported by the Kyiv Independent. Despite Russia's denial, the UK's sanctions against Kirillov suggest that there may be some truth to the allegations.

Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was a prominent Russian military figure who served as the chief of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops. Born on July 13, 1970, in Kostroma, Russia, Kirillov graduated with honors from the Kostroma Higher Military Command School of Chemical Defense in 1991