Russia arrests suspect in murder of General Igor Kirillov | News about the Russia-Ukraine war
According to the Investigative Committee, a 29-year-old Uzbek citizen is suspected of carrying out an attack in Moscow on the instructions of Ukraine.
Authorities in Russia have arrested a suspect killing of a high-ranking general and his adjutant in a bomb explosion in Moscow.
The Investigative Committee said in a statement on Wednesday that an Uzbek national had been arrested on suspicion of carrying out the deadly attack Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his assistant Ilya Polikarpov on Tuesday morning.
The 29-year-old suspect went on to say he was “recruited by Ukrainian special forces.”
Kirillov, 54, had been head of the Russian troops for protection against nuclear, biological and chemical substances since 2017. He was killed outside an apartment building when a bomb hidden in an electric scooter exploded.
A source from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed to Al Jazeera that the agency was behind the attack. Ukraine has not yet officially commented on the incident.
On Monday, the SBU initiated a criminal investigation against Kirillov and accused him of controlling the use of banned chemical weapons.
Russia has denied using any chemical weapons in its ongoing war in Ukraine.
Kirillov is the highest-ranking Russian military officer assassinated in Russia by Ukraine. His killing is likely to prompt Russian authorities to review security protocols for the army’s top brass.
