Displaying items by tag: Igor Kirillov

The Government has condemned former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev's threats against The Times journalists, labeling his rhetoric as desperate and unacceptable. Medvedev, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, described the journalists as 'legitimate military targets' following their coverage of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov's assassination (see Europe article below, ‘Russia: senior general assassinated’), for which Ukraine claimed responsibility. The Times had described the act as 'a legitimate act of defence’, prompting Medvedev's hostile comments. Keir Starmer’s spokesperson reiterated the UK's commitment to press freedom, a cornerstone of democracy, and emphasised the Government’s resolve to protect its citizens and media against threats. David Lammy called Medvedev’s statements a 'gangster threat' that underscores Moscow's desperation. Medvedev also extended his threats to NATO figures aiding Ukraine, further highlighting the volatile rhetoric from Russian leadership amid the ongoing conflict.

On 17 December Lieutenant-general Igor Kirillov and his assistant were killed in Moscow by a  Ukrainian agent in a targeted assassination, intensifying a new front in the conflict. Kirillov, the head of Russia’s nuclear, chemical, and biological defence forces, died in an explosion outside his home caused by a remotely detonated bomb hidden in a scooter. The Ukrainian security service claimed that Kirillov was ‘a legitimate target’ due to his alleged war crimes, including the use of banned chemical weapons on Ukrainian troops. Since February 2022, Russia is said to have used chemical weapons over 4,800 times under his leadership. This marks a continuing trend of Ukraine’s covert operations to assassinate high-ranking Russian officials and disrupt their military efforts. While Ukrainian intelligence rarely takes credit for such actions, these killings are seen as a psychological tool to weaken Russia's morale and send a message about the cost of war crimes.