Wednesday saw the deaths of two close associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin amidst the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The killing of former Ukrainian politician Illia Kyva, a 46-year-old pro-Russia figure, was claimed by Kyiv officials. His body was discovered in a Moscow suburb, and Ukraine's defense sector reportedly credited the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) with orchestrating the assassination. According to the Russian Investigative Committee, an "unknown person fired shots," leading to an investigation into Kyva's death. Kyva had been expelled from Ukraine's parliament after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, relocating to Russia. Convicted in absentia in November by a Ukrainian court, he faced charges of treason and attempted violent overthrow of the government.
Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov hinted at Kyiv's involvement in Kyva's death, expressing that similar fates awaited other perceived traitors. Yusov labeled Kyva as "one of the biggest scumbags, traitors and collaborators."
Simultaneously, reports from Russian outlets detailed the killing of Oleg Popov, a former deputy of parliament for the Russian-occupied Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). Popov died in a car explosion near the Avangard stadium in Luhansk. The LPR was established after Putin's annexation of Ukrainian regions in fall 2022. Yuri Yurov, LPR parliament deputy, confirmed Popov's death and mentioned a prior attempt on Popov's life in September 2022, where an individual associated with the Ukrainian SBU was detained.
While Kyiv has accepted responsibility for assassinations of pro-Russian officials in the past, they have not claimed responsibility for Popov's death. Last month, another LPR lawmaker, Mikhail Filiponenko, was killed in a car bomb attack in Luhansk, with Kyiv's military intelligence acknowledging their involvement. The ongoing conflict has seen targeted actions against officials on both sides, raising tensions in the region.
