The head of the RCMP troops investigated the activities of Western biological laboratories in Ukraine and Kiev's plans to create a "dirty" bomb
On the day of his death, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological protection troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Igor Kirillov, was supposed to hold another briefing, Izvestia found out. At them, he regularly told the details of the investigation into the activities of American biological laboratories in Ukraine, disclosed information about the project to create a "dirty" nuclear bomb by official Kiev. Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev called the murderers precisely the "military-political leadership of Ukraine." The involvement of the special services of Ukraine in the terrorist attack will be the main version of the investigation, experts are also sure. And significant efforts of law enforcement officers, according to them, are now aimed at preventing the perpetrators of the crime from leaving Russia. The head of the RCBZ troops died on the morning of December 17 — an explosive device planted in a scooter went off when he was leaving the entrance of his house on Ryazansky Prospekt.
An explosive device in a scooter
An explosive device planted in a scooter standing next to the entrance of an apartment building on Ryazansky Prospekt went off early in the morning on December 17, the Investigative Committee of Russia reported. This happened exactly at the moment when the head of the radiation, chemical and biological protection forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Igor Kirillov and his assistant came out of the entrance.
— There was a strong explosion at 6 a.m. today. Everyone woke up, didn't understand what happened," eyewitness Jan Kolomenko told Izvestia.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
During the inspection of the scene, objects were found and seized, including fragments of an explosive device. The necessary examinations will be appointed for them and other material evidence. Witnesses are being questioned and other investigative actions are being carried out, the RF IC said in its official Telegram channel.
The chairman of the Russian IC, Alexander Bastrykin, put the progress of the criminal investigation under control. The criminal case is being investigated on the grounds of crimes provided for in Articles 105, 205, 222.1, 223.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (murder, terrorist act, illegal trafficking of weapons and ammunition and manufacture of explosives).
Shortly after the explosion, news agencies, citing emergency services, reported that the explosive device's power was estimated at about 200 grams in TNT equivalent. Later, TASS cited data from law enforcement agencies that the bomb's power could have been more than 1 kg.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
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The experts interviewed by Izvestia, having studied the video from the scene of the terrorist attack, were inclined to the latest version.
— If a directional mine had been used — a fragmentation type of the American Claymore — then the mass of explosives could have been in the region of 200 grams. Dmitry Kornev, editor of the Military Russia portal, explained to Izvestia. — But if the terrorists had used such a mine, its remnants would have already been discovered. Since this information is not available, taking into account the damage, distance and location of objects, it is highly likely that the mass of explosives could be up to a kilogram. Firstly, the house was damaged. Secondly, the distance between the location of the explosives and the affected objects is about 5 meters. And the defeat is not a concussion, but a fatal outcome.
According to him, there is a high probability that the explosive device was activated via a radio channel — either it was a special radio transmitter and radio receiver, or a cell phone. The operator was watching the object, and the explosion was carried out on command.
— I would not rule out that the object was observed live, — said the expert. — But since no one was found in the footage of the video, then most likely the object was watched through a surveillance camera. It could be any camera that sees this entrance and the area. And if this is a housing and communal services camera, it means that it was hacked and access was gained to it. It is technically possible, and not very difficult. It could also be a camera on the scooter itself or in a kashing car. Whoever used this car probably got access to this camera in advance.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
Dmitry Kornev also did not rule out that, perhaps, an autonomous camera was installed somewhere, which can be tied to a tree, installed on a neighboring house and work with it while not in direct contact.
The efforts of law enforcement agencies are now aimed, among other things, at preventing the direct perpetrators of the terrorist attack from leaving the territory of Russia, a source close to law enforcement agencies is sure. The interlocutor of the "Edition" has no doubt that such a way of escape is provided for them, as it was, for example, after the murder of Russian journalist Daria Dugina.
Who organized the terrorist attack against Igor Kirillov
On the day of the assassination attempt, Igor Kirillov was supposed to hold his next briefing, a source in the Ministry of Defense told Izvestia. It is possible that he was going to publish new details of investigations related to the use of chemical weapons by the Armed Forces of Ukraine or Kiev's attempts to create a "dirty" nuclear bomb, experts do not exclude. It was the work of uncovering such facts that could lead to an attempt on the general's life.
"Western countries tried to discredit his investigations concerning the use and development of biological and chemical weapons in Ukraine," Oleg Zheltonozhko, an expert in the field of chemical warfare protection, told Izvestia. — But in all other countries of the world, they were listened to, because there was a large amount of data, specific facts, and relationships were revealed. Do not forget that the RCMP troops are successfully participating in the special operation zone. Under his leadership, the RCBZ troops were working on improving heavy flamethrower systems — the same Tosochka. And this is a weapon, the use of which on the battlefield can be crucial.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
Military expert Alexey Leonkov adheres to the same version.
— There were also many surprises related to chemically and biologically dangerous substances that were left by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the territory liberated by our army, — he stressed. — Protective suits against chemical, biological and radiation pollution were lit up again in one of the last American supplies to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The question is: "Why?" It is possible that a provocation is being prepared with the use of such weapons or a "dirty" bomb. Kirillov would certainly have answered this question at the next briefing.
According to Leonkov, Igor Kirillov's public speeches had a serious evidence base, and the terrorist attack was probably carried out in order to behead the commissions and working groups that were engaged in such investigations.
Estimates of the terrorist attack
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, called Igor Kirillov a true patriot of Russia, selflessly devoted to duty and oath.
"Attempts to intimidate our people, stop the advance of the Russian army, and sow fear are doomed," Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel, and expressed condolences over the death of the general.
Later that day, at a meeting dedicated to the conclusion of state contracts in the defense industry for 2025, he noted that the investigation of the terrorist attack had just begun, but the enemies themselves had published information about their involvement.
— It is necessary to find Kirillov's killers in the Russian Federation and destroy the customers in Kiev, they are the military and political leadership of Ukraine, - said the deputy chairman of the Security Council.
Photo: TASS/Ekaterina Shtukina
Image source: iz.ru
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Igor Kirillov "for many years systematically, with facts in his hands, exposed the crimes of the Anglo-Saxons: NATO provocations with chemical weapons in Syria, Britain's manipulation of banned chemicals and provocations in Salisbury and Amesbury, the deadly activities of American biological laboratories in Ukraine and much more."
— The death of General Igor Anatolyevich Kirillov is a huge, irreparable loss. He was a real Russian officer, infinitely devoted to his Homeland and the cause he served," Mikhail Kovalchuk, President of the Kurchatov Institute Research Center, told Izvestia. — Igor Anatolyevich was a deeply educated man, a specialist and an extremely interesting conversationalist. He was interested in everything from the global structure of the world to specific problems of chemical analysis. And he was very well versed in all these diverse issues. Besides being a brilliant professional, he was a very positive, bright person.
"The work of the Ukrainian special services"
Igor Kirillov was one of the most qualified military specialists in his field, Oleg Zheltonozhko said.
"Such a demonstrative action requires a tough response," he said. — What happened is another proof that it is pointless to negotiate with the gangs in power in Kiev. And it is necessary to deal with them accordingly — without political and security guarantees.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
There is a hunt for our outstanding designers and commanders, says military expert Viktor Litovkin.
— Quite recently, the house of the chief engineer of one of the Russian design bureaus was bombarded with cocktails, he said. — We need to improve the protection of such people, increase vigilance. Drones arrive at facilities in cities located far from the border, not because they fly from Ukraine, but because someone launches them from the territory of Russia. It is unknown how many people were recruited by the General Directorate of Intelligence or the Security Service of Ukraine. There are a lot of refugees from Ukraine now, we need to keep an eye on these people, but we don't do that. Society is somehow complacent about what is happening. And vigilance must be increased.
On December 17, the State Duma honored the memory of Igor Kirillov with a minute of silence. After that, deputy Nikolai Kolomeitsev raised the issue of the safety of military leaders and designers.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Andrey Erstrem
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Military expert Vladislav Shurygin believes that terrorist attacks on Russian citizens should be attacked in Ukraine in the same way as for the use of Western missiles on our territory.
— For the murder of General Kirillov, it is necessary to finally plunge Ukraine into darkness and launch a missile attack on the remaining power generating facilities. And at the same time to work as a "Hazel nut" on the Bank," the expert said.
High-profile attempts on Russian security forces
In December 2024, Sergei Yevsyukov, the ex-head of the Yelenovo colony in the DPR, was blown up in his car in Donetsk. The published footage shows how an unknown man puts explosives under the bottom of the car. Then the moment is captured as Yevsyukov and his wife get into the salon, after which an explosion is heard. Yevsyukov was killed and his wife was injured. The security forces promptly detained the suspect — he was charged with murder in a generally dangerous way. It turned out to be a Russian citizen. He received assignments from a curator from the Ukrainian military intelligence.
In November 2024, the FSB detained two residents of Crimea — Valery Trankovsky and a woman — who, on the instructions of the SBU, blew up a car in Sevastopol, which killed a Navy officer. Both made confessions.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
Prior to that, as a result of a car explosion, the head of the security clearance group at the Zaporizhia NPP, Andrei Korotkiy, was killed. The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has admitted that it blew up the car of the former chairman of the Council of Deputies of the city of Energodar.
In July 2024, the car of a career officer of the Russian army was blown up in the courtyard of his house in Moscow. The IED was installed on the bottom, in the driver's area. It went off when the victim turned on the ignition. After the detonation, the victim, an officer of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Andrei T., bandaged himself despite the fact that his feet were torn off by a homemade bomb. His wife was hit in the face by shrapnel.
Izvestia's help
Igor Kirillov was born on July 13, 1970 in Kostroma. He graduated from the Kostroma Higher Military Command School of Chemical Protection, the Military Academy of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection named after Marshal Timoshenko, as well as courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
He served in the RCBZ troops in various positions, including command of a platoon and a separate RCB protection brigade. Since 2009, he has held a number of senior positions in the Office of the Head of the RCBZ troops.
In April 2017, he was appointed Head of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2018, he was awarded the rank of Lieutenant General.
He took part in the development, creation and adoption of the heavy flamethrower system TOS-2, Tosochka. During the COVID-19 pandemic, reagents for detecting coronavirus RNA were developed under his leadership.
In 2021, he was awarded the title of Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation. He has been awarded many state and departmental awards by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
We worked on the material: Vladimir Matveev, Bogdan Stepovoy, Yana Sturma, Maria Nedyuk
Izvestia
