An individual from Uzbekistan has been charged by Russian authorities in connection with the assassination of a high-ranking Russian general and his aide this week, a bombing that Ukraine’s security services have claimed responsibility for, according to reports from state media on Thursday.
The suspect, identified as Akhmadzhon Kurbonov, faces detention by a Moscow court until February 17. This relates to a bombing incident on Tuesday that resulted in the death of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who led Russia’s Radiological, Biological, and Chemical Protection Forces, as reported by the Tass news agency. Kurbonov has been charged with multiple offenses, including murder, executing a terrorist act, and the illicit creation of explosives.
The attack involved a bomb concealed on an electric scooter outside Kirillov’s residence in Moscow, occurring just one day after Ukraine’s security service revealed criminal charges against the general. Accompanying Kirillov during the attack was his aide, Ilya Polikarpov, who also lost his life in the explosion.
Kurbonov, who has previously been referenced in reports as Akhmad Kurbanov, was arrested by Russian security forces on Wednesday. Following his capture, the Federal Security Service (FSB) stated that he was born in 1995 and had been enlisted by Ukraine’s security apparatus. The details of how the suspect communicated with the FSB have not been independently verified.
According to the FSB, Kurbonov claimed he was promised a payment of $100,000 and relocation to a European Union country in exchange for carrying out the assassination of Kirillov. Acting on directives from Ukrainian handlers, he allegedly acquired a homemade explosive in Moscow, mounted it on an e-scooter, and stationed it at the entrance of Kirillov’s apartment building.
The FSB indicated that Kurbonov rented a vehicle to surveil the area and utilized a camera to stream the scene live to his operatives located in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, detonating the explosive at the moment Kirillov exited the building.
At 54 years old, Kirillov led Russia’s specialized forces responsible for protecting military operations against nuclear, chemical, or biological threats and managing missions in environments contaminated by such agents. He was already sanctioned by several nations, including the UK and Canada, due to his involvement in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
On Monday, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) initiated a criminal investigation against Kirillov, accusing him of orchestrating the deployment of prohibited chemical weaponry. Russia has consistently denied any claims of utilizing chemical agents in Ukraine, instead alleging that Ukraine has used toxic substances in its military actions.
An SBU official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information, confirmed on Tuesday that the agency was involved in orchestrating the attack, calling Kirillov a “war criminal” and an “entirely legitimate target.”