Ukraine’s security services have reportedly killed a senior Russian general and his assistant in Moscow, further escalating tensions between the two nations. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s nuclear, chemical and biological defense forces, was killed by a remotely detonated bomb outside his home on Tuesday.
Kyiv has denied claiming credit for the assassination, but its security services are believed to have targeted Kirillov due to alleged war crimes committed during the ongoing conflict. The Ukrainian government claims that Russia is using banned chemical weapons in Ukraine and has accused Kirillov of being “responsible” for these actions.
The United States and Britain had previously placed Kirillov under sanctions, accusing him of using the “barbaric” chloropicrin gas. Under Kirillov’s leadership, Russia has used chemical weapons over 4,800 times since February 2022, according to Ukraine’s security service.
Ukraine’s intelligence agencies have been accused of cultivating a network of covert operatives to carry out targeted killings and sabotage against Russian military personnel. The country believes that such actions are a legitimate tool to weaken morale and punish those guilty of war crimes.
While some experts fear that Ukraine’s security services may be overextending themselves by targeting “marginal figures” and mid-level propagandists, the assassination has had a significant psychological impact on Russia. The killing is likely to prompt the Russian authorities to review their security protocols and find a way to avenge Kirillov’s death.
The incident highlights the growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with both sides accusing each other of war crimes and using targeted killings as a means to escalate the conflict.
Source: https://theweek.com/world-news/ukraine-assassinations-what-is-kyiv-hoping-to-achieve