The targeted assassination of Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defence Forces, raises alarms in Moscow amid ongoing tensions from the war in Ukraine. The bomb attack, executed via an electric scooter, emphasizes the stark reality of the conflict for residents who previously viewed the war as distant. Amid fears and growing anxiety, the incident could signify a shift in public perception and possibly provoke a stronger response from Russian authorities, although a significant policy change seems unlikely.