A high-ranking Russian general, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, was killed in an explosion in Moscow on Tuesday. Kirillov, who served as the chief of Russia's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Troops (RKhBZ), was killed by a bomb hidden in an electric scooter. The blast occurred outside a residential building on Ryazansky Prospekt, located about seven kilometers southeast of the Kremlin. Kirillov’s assistant also died in the explosion.

The attack comes as Moscow's military operation in Ukraine approaches its third anniversary. Russian media reported that the explosion severely damaged the apartment building, shattering several windows and destroying the front door. Authorities have cordoned off the area, and a criminal case has been opened in response to the bombing.

Kirillov had been in his post since 2017, overseeing special forces that operate in environments contaminated by radioactive, chemical, and biological agents. His leadership in this sensitive sector had led to sanctions, with Britain imposing restrictions on him in October due to allegations of Russia's use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. Ukrainian prosecutors also charged Kirillov in absentia over these allegations, which Russia continues to deny.

The death of the general has raised tensions as it adds another layer to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with the broader geopolitical implications yet to unfold.