In an obituary published in the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the commander of the Russian Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces - Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov - made an important contribution to the security, defense and combat readiness of the Russian Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces as well as to the development of modern weapons and military equipment and the training of Russian soldiers.
"He became a true mentor to many young professionals, inspiring their research and efforts to put new ideas into practice," the obituary said.
On the morning of December 17, an explosive device attached to an electric scooter exploded near the entrance to an apartment building on Ryazansky Avenue in Moscow. Lieutenant General Kirillov, 54, and his assistant were killed in the explosion. The Russian Investigative Committee classified the explosion as a terrorist attack.
A law enforcement official told TASS that the explosive power of the improvised explosive device (IED) used in the assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was equivalent to more than 1 kg of TNT.
"According to updated data, the explosive device's explosive power is equivalent to more than 1 kg of TNT," the source said.
Vladimir Rogov, chairman of the committee on sovereignty, patriotic projects and support for veterans of the Russian Civil Chamber, said that the terrorists who assassinated Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov were carrying out a mission from the Ukrainian secret service. He noted that the assassination of Lieutenant General Kirillov is the latest in Kiev's attacks on Russian territories, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, etc.
He said the timing of the assassination was not accidental. This was a double blow by Ukraine to create a great public influence when it took place one day after the year-end meeting of the Ministry of Defense leaders and before the annual Q&A program "Hotline with Putin" of the Russian President on December 19.
Earlier, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that Kiev had admitted its role in the terrorist attack plot against Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov.
Also according to TASS, Russia's First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky said that Russia will raise the terrorist attack against Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov at the meeting of the United Nations Security Council on December 20.
The meeting is expected to discuss the West's supply of weapons to Ukraine and its impact on prospects for a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis.
