**Russian General Accused of Using Chemical Weapons in Ukraine Killed**
Igor Kirillov, a high-ranking Russian general who was accused by the West of overseeing the use of chemical weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine, has been killed in an explosion in Moscow.
Kirillov was the head of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection troops. He was known for his outlandish briefings at the Russian defence ministry, which prompted the UK Foreign Office to label him as a “significant mouthpiece for Kremlin disinformation”.
According to Russian officials, Kirillov and an aide were killed by explosives planted in an electric scooter as he left a building in Moscow.
The West had accused Kirillov’s forces of deploying barbaric chemical weapons in Ukraine, including the toxic choking agent chloropicrin. Ukraine’s SBU security service said it was behind the blast, calling Kirillov a “war criminal” and a legitimate target.
Kirillov had made numerous outlandish claims about Ukraine, none of which were based on fact. He claimed that the US was building biological weapons laboratories in Ukraine and that Ukraine was seeking to develop a “dirty bomb”.
His death has been met with shock and outrage from Russia’s military and political establishment. A minute’s silence was observed in Russia’s parliament.
The UK Foreign Office said Kirillov’s killing would not go unanswered, while a Russian MP vowed that it would be avenged. Some commentators pointed fingers at the British or Americans, claiming that enemy agents were operating and spying on people “in our rear”.
Kirillov’s legacy is one of spreading false information and propaganda for the Kremlin. His death serves as a reminder of the risks faced by those who speak out against Russian aggression.
**Background**
The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014, with Russia backing separatist groups in eastern Ukraine. The situation escalated in 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Kirillov’s claims about chemical and biological warfare have been widely debunked by Western countries and independent experts. His death highlights the risks faced by those who speak out against Russian aggression and the continued use of disinformation as a tool of war.