In recent years, the lines between crisis management, military strategy, and covert operations have blurred, revealing a world increasingly shaped by unconventional warfare. Events such as the assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, Russia’s alleged intelligence mission during Italy’s COVID-19 crisis, and the provocative themes explored in The Finding - Itihad point to a deeper narrative: a global conflict waged not on battlefields but in the shadows of pandemics and crises.
The Death of a General
The recent assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defence Forces, highlights the high stakes of modern geopolitical rivalries. Kirillov, accused by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) of war crimes including the use of banned chemical weapons, was killed in Moscow in an operation claimed by the SBU. His death signals more than just retribution; it reflects the critical role that individuals like Kirillov play in the infrastructure of unconventional warfare—from chemical and biological defense to intelligence operations.
Italy’s COVID-19 Crisis and the Russian Mission
In 2020, as Italy became the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia sent a high-profile medical aid mission, led by Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov. Ostensibly humanitarian, the mission raised suspicions in both Italian and international media. Critics, including the Lansing Institute, suggested it was a cover for intelligence gathering. The mission’s personnel—many with military and biological warfare expertise—and its focus on Lombardy, a region critical to NATO’s logistical and strategic network, fueled these claims.
This operation coincides with the broader narrative of covert conflict that unfolded during the pandemic. Lombardy’s economic and geopolitical significance made it a focal point for NATO and, potentially, a target for adversarial powers. The region’s disproportionate suffering during the pandemic—combined with its strategic importance—raises questions about whether it was purely a victim of circumstance or part of a larger geopolitical maneuver.
A Novel Hypothesis: The Covert Start of World War III
In the novel The Finding - Itihad, I presented a provocative theory: that World War III began not with armies clashing but through covert methods in 2020, masked by the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. The novel’s central thesis—that the pandemic served as a smokescreen for psychological operations, cyberattacks, and even biological warfare—parallels real-world events such as the Russian mission to Italy and the subsequent geopolitical fallout.
Lombardy, prominently featured in the novel, is described as a geopolitical epicenter during the pandemic. The region’s struggles are portrayed as a microcosm of larger, hidden conflicts involving economic sabotage and unconventional warfare. This aligns with the accusations against Russia’s mission, suggesting a deliberate strategy to exploit vulnerabilities created by the pandemic.
Connecting the Dots: Kirillov, Covert Operations, and Modern Conflict
Kirillov’s assassination and the Russian mission to Italy share a thematic link: the centrality of unconventional warfare in today’s global conflicts. Figures like Kirillov, who oversee chemical and biological defense, are pivotal in strategies that blur the lines between humanitarian aid, military operations, and espionage. His death—likely a targeted effort to disrupt Russia’s capabilities—underscores the covert nature of modern warfare.
Similarly, the suspicions surrounding Russia’s aid mission reflect the increasing use of crises as opportunities for geopolitical maneuvering. The overlap between real-world events and the novel’s hypothesis suggests that the pandemic may have been more than just a public health crisis; it was also a stage for testing and deploying unconventional strategies.
The Implications for Global Security
The convergence of these narratives reveals a troubling reality: global conflicts are no longer confined to traditional warfare. Instead, they unfold through cyberattacks, economic sabotage, and covert operations, often masked by crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Northern Italy’s experience during the pandemic, Kirillov’s role in Russia’s unconventional warfare, and the escalating geopolitical tensions among major powers all point to a new era of hidden conflicts.
For policymakers and citizens alike, these events underscore the need for vigilance. As crises multiply—whether pandemics, climate disasters, or economic shocks—they may also serve as battlegrounds for invisible wars. Understanding these dynamics is critical to navigating an increasingly complex and covert global order.
The assassination of Igor Kirillov, the suspicions surrounding Russia’s mission to Italy, and the narrative of The Finding - Itihad converge on a singular theme: the age of overt wars may be giving way to conflicts fought in the shadows. Whether through intelligence operations disguised as humanitarian aid or strategic assassinations disrupting key figures, the global stage is being reshaped by covert actions. In this new paradigm, crises like the COVID-19 pandemic are not just challenges to overcome but opportunities for strategic advantage. Recognizing this shift is the first step in addressing the unseen frontlines of modern conflict.
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