The assassination that left Putin speechless – Ukraine proves intelligence power

Documentation: The assassination of the Russian general (Photo: Reshet)

As Kirillov was under international sanctions for alleged use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed responsibility for the assassination, justifying it by claiming Kirillov was a “war criminal” and a “legitimate target”.

The assassination of such a central military official, and moreover in the heart of Moscow – far from the front lines in Ukraine – marks a new level in the strength of the covert activity of Ukraine and its allies. This is a sharp strategic statement by the government in Kiev, which makes it clear to the Kremlin that “there is no immunity” even to the heart of the country.

According to Western intelligence sources, Kirillov was responsible for over 4,800 chemical attacks in Ukraine. At the same time, he led an extensive disinformation campaign against the West, including claims, so far proven baseless, about biological weapons laboratories in Ukraine.

While the Ukrainians congratulated “Baruch Shaftarno”, senior Russians, including Dmitry Medvedev, promised revenge. The spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, claimed that his assassination was intended to silence the “exposure of the crimes of the West”.

Security officials in the West see the assassination as proof of Ukraine’s advanced intelligence and operational capabilities deep inside Russian territory, and could lead to a further escalation in the war – it is doubtful whether the latter is a blessing or a curse on the part of the Western countries. On the part of the Kremlin, they have already ordered an increase in security measures around the regime’s top officials, because one less of their own is less nice to them.