//The Wire//2300Z December 17, 2024//

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//BLUF: RUSSIAN GENERAL ASSASSINATED IN MOSCOW.//

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-International Events-

Russia: This morning General Igor Kirillov was assassinated at his apartment in Moscow as an IED-laden scooter was strategically parked outside his apartment. As he was exiting his home, an unknown assailant detonated the IED, killing him. Ukraine has claimed responsibility for the attack.

-HomeFront-

Louisiana: This morning a large-scale motor vehicle accident occurred on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge. Several dozen vehicles were involved in a pileup on the bridge (which is the longest bridge in the U.S.) possibly due to foggy conditions severely reducing visibility. AC: Though similar accidents are very common this time of year in the region, the scale of this accident (and the critical nature of the bridge itself) is noteworthy.

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Analyst Comments: The assassination of Igor Kirillov is an exceptionally serious escalation of the war as he was the director of Russia’s department of Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops. Ukraine also immediately taking credit, instead of remaining quiet about the attack is also very likely to perceived as adding salt to the wound. Additionally, the graphic nature of bringing explosive, terror-style attacks to the city of Moscow (and publishing the video of the attack) will not be ignored by Russia, who will probably respond in kind via another IRBM strike, maybe targeting Kiev. Both Ukraine and Russia have sporadically relied upon assassinations throughout this conflict, however at this late hour, this is undoubtedly meant to escalate the situation even further.

Analyst: S2A1

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