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Today, we will discuss how the Main Military Intelligence Directorate and the Security Service of Ukraine have recently claimed responsibility for high-profile liquidation operations targeting key figures within Russia’s war effort. These operations, occurring deep behind enemy lines, demonstrate Ukraine's ability to strike with precision and intent, undermining Russian military infrastructure and morale.
The most notable recent operation took place in Moscow, where Security Service agents allegedly assassinated Lieutenant General Igor Kirilov, head of Russia's radiation, chemical, and biological defense forces. Kirilov and his assistant were reportedly killed when an explosive device concealed in an electric scooter detonated as they exited a building. This high-profile strike is significant for multiple reasons.
Kirillov played a central role in overseeing chemical weapon deployments and at the same time in conducting information operations about alleged Ukrainian and NATO chemical weapon activities. According to various sources, under his command, Russian forces carried out over 4,800 chemical attacks in Ukraine. His liquidation sends a clear message, and such events will deter others from being involved in the war.
This strike, executed in the heart of the Russian capital, not only removed a key military figure but also highlighted the vulnerability of Russian security apparatuses, undermining the perception of invincibility within Russia’s own borders.
Days earlier, Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate agents reportedly eliminated Mikhail Shatsky, Deputy General Designer and Head at the Rosatom-owned “Mars” design bureau, in Kotelniki, Moscow Oblast. Shatsky was a crucial player in modernizing Russian Kh-59 cruise missiles into more advanced Kh-69 variants and integrating artificial intelligence into drones and aerospace systems.
Targeting Shatsky disrupted critical advancements in Russian missile and drone technologies used daily to target mainly Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. This operation struck at the core of Russia’s efforts to modernize its arsenal, directly hindering its capacity to sustain prolonged aggression against Ukraine.
In Donetsk, the head of the Olenivka war prisoner colony Sergey Yevsiukov met a similarly calculated end. Surveillance footage showed an unidentified individual planting an improvised explosive device in his car. The following morning, it detonated as the target attempted to start the vehicle.
The Olenivka colony is infamous for its brutal treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, including a devastating attack that killed dozens of captured soldiers when reportedly shelling of one of the sleeping blocks in the prison facility and blaming the Ukrainian armed forces for it. This operation symbolized retribution for these war crimes and served as a warning to others complicit in similar atrocities.
These liquidations follow a clear pattern: they target individuals whose roles are pivotal to Russia’s war machine. Whether undermining military capabilities, disrupting technological advancements, or exacting justice for war crimes, these operations deliver both immediate and long-term strategic benefits. First, they inflict direct damage on Russia’s ability to wage war by eliminating key personnel. Second, they impose psychological pressure, forcing Russian officials to confront the reality that they are not safe, even in the deepest rear. Lastly, these strikes disrupt Russia’s narrative of control and strength, sowing doubt among its leadership and population.
Overall, by combining precision, symbolism, and strategic intent, Ukraine’s intelligence operations are not just acts of retaliation but calculated moves to erode Russia's capacity and a masterclass in asymmetrical warfare, blending tactical precision, symbolic resonance, and strategic foresight. They serve as a reminder that Ukraine is not only defending its sovereignty but actively shaping the battlefield in ways that diminish Russia's ability to sustain its war. By leveraging these operations, Ukraine continues to tilt the balance in its favor, demonstrating resilience, ingenuity, and a persistent commitment to victory.
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