Vladimir Alekseyev, deputy chief of Russia’s military intelligence agency, was hospitalized after being shot several times on Friday by an assailant at an apartment building in northwestern Moscow. The attack comes amid a series of targeted killings of senior Russian military officers, which Moscow has blamed on Ukraine.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that a Russian citizen, Lyubomir Korba, was detained in Dubai on suspicion of carrying out the shooting and has been handed over to Russia. Authorities said they had also identified two accomplices, one of whom was detained in Moscow, while the other reportedly fled to Ukraine.
Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko confirmed Alekseyev’s hospitalization and said investigators are continuing their work to establish the full circumstances of the attack.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the shooting, attributing it to Ukraine and describing it as a “terrorist act” aimed at undermining ongoing peace efforts. The incident occurred just one day after Russian, Ukrainian, and US negotiators concluded two days of talks in Abu Dhabi focused on ending the nearly four-year-long war in Ukraine.
Since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian authorities have accused Kyiv of orchestrating multiple assassinations targeting military officers and prominent figures inside Russia. Some of these incidents have been claimed by Ukraine, while others remain unaddressed. In the case of Alekseyev’s shooting, Ukrainian officials have not publicly commented.
The attack has heightened concerns over security within Russia’s military and intelligence services. Analysts note that Alekseyev holds a key position within Russia’s military intelligence hierarchy, making the attack a significant blow both operationally and symbolically.
Security measures in Moscow have been stepped up following the shooting, with authorities reviewing protocols for protecting high-ranking officials. Residents in northwestern districts reported increased police presence and temporary road closures as investigators combed the area for evidence.
The detention of the suspect in Dubai underscores the transnational dimensions of the investigation. The FSB did not provide details on how the suspect was apprehended abroad or the cooperation between Russian and international authorities, though such operations often involve close coordination with host countries.
This latest attack adds to a string of high-profile incidents that have fueled tensions between Moscow and Kyiv and intensified Moscow’s narrative of external threats to its security infrastructure. It also raises questions about the broader security environment for Russian officials amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Alekseyev’s condition has not been updated publicly, but hospital sources indicate he is receiving intensive care following multiple gunshot wounds. Russian authorities have pledged to pursue all leads in the investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable.
