Photo: Alexander Miridonov, Kommersant
Russia reacted sharply to the explosion that killed General Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian army’s radiation, chemical and biological defence troops. Kremlin officials vowed revenge and punishment for those responsible for the attack. Dmitry Medvedev, vice-president of Russia’s Security Council, said that Ukrainian leaders should be held accountable for the attack, BBC reports.
Medvedev said that Ukraine, facing the “inevitability of its military defeat”, was carrying out “vile and insidious attacks on peaceful cities” and that “revenge awaits Ukraine’s top political and military leaders”. The head of the State Duma Defence Committee, Andrei Kartapolov, promised that Russia would find and punish those responsible for Kirillov’s murder, regardless of where they are.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed that Kirillov had devoted many years to exposing the “crimes of the Anglo-Saxons” and condemned his murder. State Duma deputy and retired army general Andrei Gurulov called for a “tough response” that would include strikes against “Anglo-Saxon officials” whom he considers responsible for international conflicts.
At the same time, Ukrainian officials have confirmed the involvement of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in the assassination of General Kirillov, considering him a “war criminal” and “an absolutely legitimate target”. The SBU accuses Kirillov of using banned chemicals against the Ukrainian military, which led to the hospitalisation of more than 2,000 soldiers and the death of three of them.
Russia classified the incident as a terrorist attack and vowed severe retaliation, while Ukraine continues to accuse Russia of using chemical and biological weapons on the frontlines in the east and south.
