A scary new phase in the Ukraine conflict?

The early morning bombing that killed Mr Kirillov, 54, and his assistant is believed to have been an act of terrorism. An explosive device attached to a scooter parked near an apartment building triggered the attack.

The attack was identified as being carried out by Ukraine. Ukrainian security forces, through the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), claimed responsibility for the assassination.

Major General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian military's radiation, chemical and biological protection unit, attends a news conference at Kubinka Patriot Park, outside Moscow, Russia, on June 22, 2018. (Photo courtesy of AP, not for reuse)

According to information from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the suspect, born in 1995, was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence agencies and promised a reward of up to $100,000 and the opportunity to reside in a European Union country to carry out the attack. This is the highest-ranking assassination of a Russian military general since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began nearly three years ago.

The Ukrainian government has targeted General Kirillov for allegedly using banned chemical weapons in Ukraine. However, as head of Russia’s chemical, biological and radiological defense forces, Kirillov has frequently denied international accusations of Russia’s use of chemical weapons, accusing the Ukrainian military of using toxic agents.

Portrait of the suspect. Photo: Russian Federal Security Service

The assassination is a clear sign that both Russia and Ukraine are trying to exert maximum pressure on any negotiations that might take place. “This is a new, chilling stage in this war,” former Ukrainian government minister Tymofiy Mylovanov wrote on X, describing it as part of a Russian retaliatory campaign that also targeted Ukrainian military officials.

As it has done at other crucial moments in the war, Russia has vowed to retaliate harshly for Kirillov’s assassination. The deputy head of the Kremlin’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, has promised “imminent punishment” for senior Ukrainian figures. At the United Nations, Russia plans to raise the issue with the Security Council.

Some analysts have also warned that the assassination could mark a significant escalation in the conflict. Ian Bremmer, a prominent analyst, said the attack was not only a significant escalation but also reflected confidence that negotiations would soon take place and that both sides wanted to gain an advantage before going to the negotiating table.

The assassination of Lieutenant General Kirillov is not the first incident targeting high-ranking Russian officials. Last week, Moscow was also the scene of the apparent targeted assassination of a top cruise missile engineer.

A view of the site where Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense Forces, and his assistant Ilya Polikarpov were killed by an explosive device planted near an apartment complex in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. (Image copyrighted by AP, not for reuse)

Attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine are also on the rise, with strikes targeting the power grid amid the cold weather.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Ukrainian forces continue to be surrounded by Russian troops. Specifically, Kiev is facing many difficulties as Russian forces gain advantages on the eastern front of Ukraine and increase efforts to retake territory occupied by the enemy in the Kursk region.

Hours after the attempted bombing of Mr. Kirillov in Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking remotely at a regional alliance conference, did not mention the assassination of the Russian general. He expressed hope that negotiations could begin soon. He hoped 2025 would be the year the war would end, but he stressed that Ukraine would not give up on a peace deal.

However, the assassination of General Kirillov has raised fears of a new dark phase in the war, with threats growing and the future of peace talks becoming uncertain.

Hoai Phuong (according to Miami Herald, TASS, Los Angeles Times)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/vu-am-sat-tuong-nga-tai-moscow-giai-doan-moi-dang-so-trong-xung-dot-ukraine-post326198.html