The Kremlin reported Putin's condolences over the death of Gen. Kirillov

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing on December 18 that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences over the deaths of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense (RCBZ) troops of the Russian Armed Forces, and his assistant Ilya Polikarpov.

"It is now obvious who are the customers, who are the organizers of this terrorist act. It is once again confirmed that the Kiev regime does not shy away from terrorist methods of work," the presidential spokesman said, adding that the authorities have an understanding of who the enemy is and what it is capable of.

Asked whether the Kremlin considers the killing of a senior Defense Ministry official to be another crossing of "red lines" and whether the security of the agency's leadership will be strengthened, Peskov said the orderers are already known and Russia will continue to fight them.

"We are fighting the customers [of this terrorist attack], we are fighting this Nazi regime and we will continue the fight," he said.

Peskov also noted the efficient and quick work of law enforcement agencies. Despite the fact that little time has passed since the general's murder, much has already become known.

Chief of the RKhBZ troops Kirillov was killed in an explosion in Moscow. What is known

Earlier in the day, the Federal Security Service (FSB) reported the detention of a 29-year-old Uzbek citizen in the case of the murder of Kirillov and his aide. During interrogation, the attacker explained that he had been recruited by the Ukrainian security services. The detainee may face punishment up to life imprisonment.

Igor Kirillov and his assistant were killed on the morning of December 17 as a result of detonation of an explosive device planted in a scooter near the entrance. The explosion occurred near a seven-story apartment building on Ryazansky Avenue in Moscow. A criminal case of murder, terrorist act and illegal arms trafficking (Article 105, Article 205 and Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) was opened over the incident.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that Igor Kirillov had been systematically exposing Western crimes for many years, worked fearlessly and never hid behind the backs of others. In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry's ambassador-at-large for Ukraine's crimes, Rodion Miroshnik, said that the evidence cited by the general was threatening and painful for Russia's adversaries.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the US had nothing to do with the terrorist attack in Moscow that killed servicemen. Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder also said that the United States was not involved in the attack and did not contribute to it in any way.