Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs
The United States said Tuesday it was not involved in the killing of a senior Russian army officer in an operation claimed by Ukraine, but denounced his “atrocities.”
“I can tell you that the United States was not aware of it in advance and was not involved,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said of the killing of Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian army’s chemical weapons division.
But Miller pointed to earlier U.S. assessments that Kirillov — the senior-most Russian military figure assassinated since Moscow invaded Ukraine — had ordered the use of riot control agents on the battlefield in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
news
Who Is Igor Kirillov, the Highest-Ranking Assassinated Russian General?
Read more
“He was a general who was involved in a number of atrocities. He was involved in the use of chemical weapons against [the] Ukrainian military,” Miller said.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine’s Western allies of being “accomplices” to the brazen assassination in Moscow.
A U.S. official, speaking earlier on condition of anonymity, said that the United States “was not aware of the operation in advance and we do not support or enable these kinds of activities.”
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Continue
Not ready to support today? Remind me later.
×
Remind me next month
Thank you! Your reminder is set.
We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy.
