Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
18 December 2024 | 11:43 CAT
3-minute read

Head of Russian military’s biological and chemical weapons unit killed

General Igor Kirillov and his deputy were killed in an explosion early on Tuesday. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is reportedly responsible for the attack, which was part of a special operation that took place outside an apartment building in Moscow.

Ukrainian security sources said that a scooter with explosives was remotely detonated near Kirillov and his assistant. Russian state news agency Tass reported that the bomb had the power equivalent to approximately 300 g of TNT.

The assassination is under investigation and is being treated as a terrorist attack, according to reports.

During this week’s Media Lens, Ibrahim Deen discussed the implications of the alleged assassination for Moscow.

“It shows… the ability of Ukraine to penetrate deep into Russian territory. It’s not the first. A few days before, the head of missile development, Mikhail Shatsky, was also shot in the forest in Moscow, also attributed to Ukraine. It does show that the intelligence they have is quite significant,” Deen said, referring to the death of the deputy general designer at the Experimental Design Bureau, Mars, who was responsible for modernising missiles used against Ukraine and was gunned down last week near the capital city.

The attacks reflect both Ukraine’s deepening intelligence and its evolving military tactics, as well as Russia’s weakening national security.

“For this to have happened, they [Ukraine] would have had to have had people very close to him, or at least living in the buildings surrounding him,” Deen said.

Media coverage of assassinations in Russia over the past two years has focused on demonising Russia due to its allegedly unfounded invasion of Ukraine. Deen emphasised the importance of labelling the attacks, explaining that media labels play a large role in the way people view the killings.

“The attack happened in a civilian area and would conform to the standard definition of what you’d call terrorism,” Deen said, adding that current coverage lacks context and nuance.

“Russian media has also been covering the issue. And there’s finally a confirmation or concurrence that the war is coming to Moscow. And the media is actually, for the first time in Russia, showing parts of the conflict and how serious it has become,” he added.

However, Deen expressed scepticism about the credibility of the coverage, which “is always skewed”, with the truth somewhere in the middle.

These assassinations are unlikely to alter the overall trajectory of the conflict. Analysts suggest that in the short term, President Putin may double down on retaliatory measures, as seen in past escalations following high-profile setbacks. However, Russia’s diminished military capacity after two years of war may limit its ability to respond effectively.

In the medium term, these incidents could impede Russia’s strategic capabilities, particularly in missile development and defence systems, following Shatsky’s assassination. However, the broader outcome of the conflict will depend on external factors, such as potential shifts in US foreign policy under Trump’s 2025 presidency, which could influence peace negotiations or prolong hostilities.

Listen to the Media Lens on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Habib Bobat.