Title: Explosive Attack in Russia Sparks Accusations and Fear Among Migrants

Russia has pointed the finger at Kyiv, labelling the recent brutal attack on a high-ranking Russian officer as an act of “terrorism”. This comes after an Uzbek national was arrested for the crime, confessing to placing a deadly explosive device on the orders of Ukrainian intelligence.

The incident resulted in the deaths of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Forces, and his assistant. The lethal device was hidden in a scooter, detonated outside a Moscow building on the morning of December 17.

The swift arrest of the 29-year-old Central Asian suspect has raised eyebrows, leading to speculation that he might be a fall guy. Amid these accusations, rumors have circulated of increased police raids on migrants.

Political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin shared his insights with Current Time, suggesting the swift arrest might be a show of efficiency by the special services. He noted that it was too early to determine the accuracy of the arrest.

Despite no official claim of responsibility for the deadly attack, a source from Ukraine’s SBU security service suggested to RFE/RL that the incident resulted from an SBU special operation.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) issued a statement on December 18, claiming the suspect had been trained and recruited by Ukraine’s special services, who offered him money to carry out the attack. According to the FSB, the suspect followed orders from Ukraine to arrive in Moscow and plant the high-power homemade explosive device.

The FSB statement, which has yet to be commented on by the Kremlin, also noted that the suspect allegedly triggered the bomb as Kirillov and his assistant exited the building.

The suspect is alleged to have received $100,000 and the promise of residency in a European country for the murder. He now faces a potential life sentence for his actions. The FSB vowed to find and punish the Ukrainian special services officers who allegedly organized the attack.

However, the FSB did not furnish any evidence along with its statement, leading some analysts to question the rapid response.

A Kyrgyzstani woman in Moscow told RFE/RL that she fears the incident will trigger a backlash against Central Asian migrants, with increased street inspections and potential deportations.

Kirillov’s assassination marks the most high-profile military officer to be killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The SBU previously accused him of using chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops during the conflict.

The RKhBZ, the special forces Kirillov headed, are known for operating in conditions of radioactive, chemical, and biological contamination.

Several Russian officers and pro-war figures have been killed in Russia and the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. These coincide with reported efforts by Russian agents to eliminate high-ranking Ukrainian military and security services officers.

Kirillov’s role in an RFE/RL Russian Service investigation that exposed a restricted facility outside Moscow linked to an alleged offensive biological weapons program has been noted.

Russian senior security official and former President Dmitry Medvedev suggested that NATO and Ukraine’s Western allies were behind the attack due to their ongoing support for Kyiv during the Russian invasion.

Security analyst Yuri Fedorov expects Russia to retaliate following these attacks, though he downplayed their impact on Russia’s military effort.

This article includes reporting by Zoriana Stepanenko in Brussels and Rikard Jozwiak in Prague.