The assassination of the general broke the normalcy of Moscow

Appearance and reality: There is a continuous fight going on between the two in Moscow.

Despite almost three years of war, life here can seem so normal: from crowds of commuters on the metro to bars and clubs full of young Muscovites.

Then, suddenly, something happens to remind you: There is nothing normal about Russia today.

That “something” could be a Ukrainian drone that is penetrating Moscow’s air defenses.

Or – even more dramatic – what happened on Tuesday morning: the targeted assassination of a senior Russian general as he was leaving an apartment block.

When Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his assistant Ilya Polikarpov Killed by a bomb hidden on an electric scooterThe reality of Russia’s war on Ukraine hits home.

At least for those Russians who are close to the crime scene.

“It’s one thing to read about it in the news, it seems far away, but when it happens next to you, it’s completely different and terrifying,” Lisa tells me. She lives in a building across from the blast site.

“By now, (the war) seemed like it was getting too far – now someone is dead, here, you can feel the consequences.

“My anxiety has skyrocketed. Every sound you hear makes you nervous – you wonder if it’s a drone or something on a construction site,” says Liza.

The notion that Russia’s war in Ukraine is a bit far-fetched is something I’ve often heard here. I think, for a large portion of the population, this is a war that they only experience on their TV screens or on their smart phones. In many ways, a virtual war.

This is truly astonishing considering the huge number of dead and injured.

But the assassination of a Russian general in Moscow: this is certainly an alarm bell; This is proof that this war is very real and very close to home.

Will this serve as a warning to Russian officials?

Probably not. There is little sign of a Kremlin U-turn on Ukraine. Moscow is far more likely to escalate the war.

Just pay attention to the signs.

Reacting to the news of Kirillov’s assassination, the host of a political talk show on Russian state TV blamed Ukraine and claimed that “with this attack President Zelensky has signed his death sentence”.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said, “Investigators must find the killers in Russia.” He said: “We must do everything to destroy their protectors who are in Kiev.”

There has been no public reaction so far from President Vladimir Putin on the killing of the general and his assistant.

But Kremlin leaders have said several times before that Russia “will always respond” when faced with security threats.

Based on that pledge, there is a possibility of retaliation.

Kremlin leaders are scheduled to hold their annual year-end press conference and phone-in on Thursday. It is usually a marathon affair which is telecast live by all the main TV channels.

I wonder: will he use this incident to comment on Kirillov’s dramatic early-morning assassination?

Will he break his silence on Syria? The Russian president has so far said nothing publicly about the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Moscow’s key ally in the Middle East.

And what will he tell Russians about where their country is headed as the war in Ukraine – which Putin still calls his “special military operation” – approaches three years?