Igor Kirillov, head of Russia's nuclear and chemical defense, helped spread false claims about Ukraine, the U.S. and COVID-19.

Igor Kirillov, a general in charge of Russia’s military’s nuclear and chemical weapons protection forces, was killed on Tuesday by a bomb in Moscow, the Russian authorities said.

Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov met his demise in Moscow on Dec. 17, reportedly killed by a bomb attached to a scooter planted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). "Kirillov was a war criminal and a completely legitimate target,

Kirillov ran Russia’s nuclear, biological and chemical defense forces. Kyiv previously accused him of ordering the use of chemical weapons against Ukraine.

Kirillov, 54, is the most senior Russian military officer to be assassinated inside Russia by Ukraine and his murder is likely to prompt the Russian authorities to review security protocols for the army's top brass.

Ukrainian sources were quick to background journalists to say they were behind the killing of Russian General Igor Kirillov. Experts say it's likely not that simple.

Russian officials say a man has been detained over the killing of Lt. General Igor Kirillov, who led Russia's chemical and biological weapons unit.

Russia said on Wednesday it had detained an Uzbek man who had confessed to planting and detonating a bomb which killed a top general, Igor Kirillov, in Moscow on the instructions of Ukraine's SBU security service.

Russian state media says that an Uzbek citizen accused of acting on behalf of Ukraine has been charged by Russian authorities with this week’s assassination of a senior Russian general and his assistant.

A top Russian general accused of using chemical weapons on the battlefields in Ukraine was killed after a bomb went off in Moscow early Tuesday, Russian investigators said, in an attack swiftly claimed by Kyiv.

Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who has been assassinated in Moscow aged 54, was a senior figure in the Kremlin and head of the Russian radioactive, chemical and biological “protection” forces.