Suspect in killing of a Russian general claims he was paid by Ukraine, Russia says
Russian authorities disclosed on Sunday that the individual responsible for the tragic car bomb explosion that claimed the life of a Russian general had confessed to being paid by the Ukrainian Security Service. The suspect, Ignat Kuzin, pleaded guilty to terrorism charges in connection to the incident.
According to the Investigative Committee, Kuzin confessed to being hired to assassinate Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, who served as a deputy head of the main operational department in the General Staff of the Russian armed forces. The fatal attack took place in Balashikha, a suburb of Moscow, where an explosive device was planted in Moskalik’s vehicle.
This recent incident marks the second targeted attack on a high-ranking Russian military official within four months. The previous attack, which resulted in the death of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov on December 17, 2024, was orchestrated by Ukraine’s security agency and involved a bomb hidden on an electric scooter near Kirillov’s residence.
Lt. Gen. Kirillov was responsible for leading Russia’s Radiation, Biological, and Chemical Protection Forces, a specialized unit tasked with safeguarding the military against the use of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. Tragically, Kirillov’s assistant also lost his life in the bombing incident.
