Moscow, Russia – A senior figure in Russian military intelligence is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after being shot multiple times in Moscow on . Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, deputy chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff – commonly known as the GRU – was attacked in a residential building on Volokolamsk Highway, according to Russian authorities.
Svetlana Petrenko, spokesperson for the Russian Investigative Committee (ICR), confirmed the attack, stating that an unknown assailant opened fire on Alekseyev before fleeing the scene. “The victim was hospitalised in one of the city hospitals,” Petrenko said, adding that investigators and forensic experts are currently examining security camera footage and interviewing witnesses.
The ICR has opened a criminal investigation into the incident, focusing on charges of attempted murder and illegal firearms trafficking. The attack comes amid a series of recent incidents targeting Russian military personnel, raising concerns about internal security and potential escalation of conflict-related violence within Russia.
Alekseyev, 64, is a key figure in Russia’s intelligence apparatus, having played a significant role in directing intelligence efforts during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He also participated in negotiations with the Wagner mercenary group during their brief mutiny in June 2023, attempting to mediate a resolution between the group’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and the Russian military establishment.
The timing of the attack is particularly noteworthy, as Alekseyev’s superior, Igor Kostyukov, head of the GRU, is currently in Abu Dhabi leading Russian negotiations with the United States and Ukraine on potential pathways to end the war in Ukraine. This coincidence raises questions about whether the attack was intended to disrupt diplomatic efforts or to send a message to the Russian leadership.
Alekseyev is currently under sanctions imposed by the United States and the United Kingdom. The U.S. Sanctioned him for alleged attempts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election, while the UK sanctioned him in connection with the 2018 nerve agent attack in Salisbury. These sanctions underscore his prominence as a key figure in Russia’s intelligence operations and perceived adversarial activities.
The attack on Alekseyev is the latest in a string of incidents targeting Russian military figures. In December 2025, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate at the General Staff, was killed in a car bombing in Moscow. Prior to that, in April 2025, Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff, was also killed by a car bomb as he left his apartment. In December 2024, Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense Forces, was killed in a bomb blast.
In January 2026, an attempt to kill a soldier in St. Petersburg was reportedly foiled by Russian military intelligence. In connection with the Moskalik bombing, Ignat Kuzin, a Ukrainian resident, was arrested in Moscow in November 2025 and charged with preparing an act of terrorism, though Russian officials allege the device was detonated remotely from Ukrainian territory.
While Ukrainian security services (SBU) are often suspected in such attacks, the SBU rarely claims responsibility. However, the SBU did claim responsibility for the killing of Kirillov, which occurred a day after the SBU charged him with crimes related to the use of chemical weapons.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has suggested, without providing evidence, that Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may be responsible for the shooting of Alekseyev, alleging it could be an attempt to derail ongoing negotiations. This claim reflects the Kremlin’s tendency to attribute such incidents to Ukrainian sabotage or foreign interference.
The increasing frequency of attacks on high-ranking Russian military officials underscores the growing risks faced by individuals involved in the war in Ukraine and the potential for further escalation of violence within Russia. The investigation into the attack on Alekseyev is ongoing, and the motive remains unclear. However, the incident is likely to heighten tensions between Russia and Ukraine and further complicate efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
