Verified Footage Reveals Details of Igor Kirillov’s Death

BBC Verify has examined social media footage and photographs originating from Moscow to reconstruct the events surrounding the explosion that resulted in the deaths of Russian Lt Gen Igor Kirillov and his assistant. Ukrainian sources have claimed responsibility for this assault on the high-ranking officer, who has led Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection troops since 2017. The UK sanctioned him in October, alleging he was a “significant mouthpiece for Kremlin disinformation”. According to Russia’s Investigations Committee, which functions as the nation’s equivalent of the FBI, Lt Gen Kirillov was exiting a contemporary apartment complex in south-east Moscow early on Tuesday when an explosive device concealed within a parked scooter was detonated. Video evidence verified by BBC Verify depicts two individuals exiting the structure just prior to an explosion occurring adjacent to the entrance. The attire worn by these individuals matches the colour of the clothing on the bodies seen in subsequent images. A scooter is visible positioned near the doorway. The footage does not show anything after the detonation, as the remaining view is obstructed by debris from the blast. Further video material examined by BBC Verify reveals the remnants of an electric scooter amidst debris, situated between two deceased individuals and a damaged doorway. A detailed photograph of the scooter, confirmed through comparison with the surrounding debris, indicates that it is mostly undamaged, except for its missing handlebars. Specialists from Janes, a private organization focused on open-source investigations, informed BBC Verify that the visual evidence pointed to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) as the cause of the explosion, rather than a standard munition. A spokesperson for the organization stated to BBC Verify, “From the available pictures of the scooter it actually looks pretty intact, so the effect appears to be more fragmentation than blast.” The US Department of Homeland Security defines an IED as a “homemade” bomb that can manifest in diverse configurations and typically incorporates readily available materials like nails, glass, or metal fragments. David Heathcote, an intelligence manager at McKenzie Intelligence, a firm of security analysts, similarly indicated that the explosive device seemed to be an IED. He informed BBC Verify, “IEDs can be deliberately constructed so as to appear as an everyday item that would not look out of place.” He continued, “In this instance it appears that the device was concealed within a scooter, most likely using a military grade explosive such as (but not necessarily) Semtex, rather than a home-made explosive.” He further commented that the assault exhibited “a decent level of sophistication and may have taken months of preparation,” necessitating a “significant amount of surveillance of the intended target prior to the attack.” Russian media outlets have hypothesized that an explosive device was affixed to the scooter’s handlebars. Reports, referencing law enforcement sources, have also indicated that the detonation was probably remote. Mr. Heathcote concurred with this evaluation, proposing that a radio signal from a mobile phone or car key fob could have served as the initiator. He explained to BBC Verify, “The attacker will need to have eyes on the device and will press a switch to initiate the explosion as the target comes into range.” He added, “The proximity to the device of the attacker depends on the transmitter [or] receiver being used.” Russian state media initially reported that the bomb contained up to 300g of explosive material, subsequently updating this figure to 1kg, based on law enforcement information. An individual who witnessed the event has presented Russian media with images of what he claimed was debris from the blast that landed in his apartment situated across the street from the incident location. BBC Verify is presenting these images to weapons experts to assist in determining if the debris originated from the device. The apartment building where Lt Gen Kirillov died is a relatively recent construction, completed in 2019, according to its developers. The residences are considered high-end, with some units listed online for approximately 20 million Roubles (£153,540). The videos authenticated by the BBC show a small gathering of people around the bodies, which are positioned on the snow-covered street. Emergency service vehicles are also discernible in the recordings. Both video clips were recorded on a street facing north towards Ryazansky Prospekt, Moscow, and appeared on social media on Tuesday morning. They depict damage to the building’s facade, including scattered bricks and open doors, mere feet from the deceased. An additional video captured a brilliant flash just outside the camera’s view. The blast’s force dislodged snow from vehicles parked nearby. The widely followed Russian Telegram channel Mash reported that a minimum of 10 other apartments on the street sustained damage from the explosion. Further reporting was contributed by Jemimah Herd. What would you like BBC Verify to investigate? Copyright 2024 BBC. 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