How Ukraine assassinated a Russian general with an electric scooter

In a brazen operation pulled off by Ukrainian security forces, Russian Lt. Gen. Igor Anatolyevich Kirillov was assassinated in the Russian capital with what appears to be a weaponized electric kickscooter.

Kirillov was the head of the Chemical, Biological, and Nuclear defense troops of the Russian military at the time of his death. He was reportedly responsible for the use of the poison gas chloropicrin during Russia’s war with Ukraine, which the New York Times noted is classified as a war crime by the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Kirillov and his assistant were said to have been killed when a bomb attached to an electric scooter exploded outside of an apartment building Tuesday morning in Moscow.

Damage from the scene was relatively limited to the immediate vicinity of the blast, indicating that the size of the explosive was likely small and that the attack was targeted specifically at Kirillov. Officials claim that the explosive was likely detonated remotely.

Witnesses reported seeing a scooter leaning against the wall shortly before the blast, a common sight in the area that would have been unlikely to arouse suspicion.

An electric scooter was also seen at that location in video footage taken just before the explosion, and local officials were filmed collecting the charred remains of a scooter in a plastic bag while processing the scene.

Dashcam footage has also emerged showing the blast originating from the area where a black electric scooter is parked against the wall.

The non-conventional use of micromobility vehicles such as electric scooters, e-bikes, and e-motorcycles has become a common tactic employed by Ukraine. Small-format electric vehicles have been deployed by Ukraine on several occasions during the war, which escalated significantly with Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukrainian territory.

We first learned of Ukrainian electric bicycle manufacturer Delfast’s electric bikes being used as a mobile platform for carrying NLAW rockets used to destroy Russian tanks. The 50 mph (80 km/h) off-road electric bikes were uniquely suited to carrying heavy gear in rough terrain while remaining undetected due to low a noise/heat signature.

The Ukrainians have also used powerful electric bikes as silent, stealthy vehicles for inserting sniper teams at the front lines, allowing soldiers to emplace quickly and effectively without giving away their positions.

We’ve even seen Ukrainian soldiers using small electric boats, including electric kayaks, for mobility along rivers and other narrow waterways.

For its part, Russia has also employed non-conventional vehicles, though to much lesser effect. For example, its golf cart-mounted soldiers fared poorly when attempting to storm Ukrainian positions earlier this year, though the country has also begun testing electric motorcycles for wartime use.

Lead image: AI-generated; second image: Wikimedia Commons; third image: Wikimedia Commons