Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev Shot in Moscow; Suspect Extradited from Dubai
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, a first deputy head of Russia's military intelligence (GRU), was shot and wounded in Moscow on Friday. The incident led to the apprehension of a suspect, identified as Lyubomir Korba, in Dubai, who was subsequently extradited to Russia. Russian authorities have accused Ukrainian intelligence services of orchestrating the attack, an allegation Ukraine has denied.
Incident Details
On Friday, Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, 64, was shot multiple times at a residential building on Volokolamskoye Highway in northwest Moscow. The assailant, using a silenced Makarov pistol which was later found at the scene, fled immediately after the shooting. General Alexeyev was hospitalized, underwent surgery, and by Saturday had regained consciousness. Reports on Sunday indicated his life was not in danger and he was able to speak.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin was informed about the attack. The Investigative Committee's spokesperson, Svetlana Petrenko, stated that investigative actions and operational search measures were initiated to identify those involved in the crime.
Investigation and Arrests
Russian investigators identified the alleged assailant as Lyubomir Korba, a Ukrainian-born Russian citizen born in 1960. According to the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Investigative Committee, Mr. Korba was tasked by Ukrainian intelligence to carry out the shooting, having arrived in Russia in December under instructions from "Kyiv special services."
After the incident, Mr. Korba reportedly boarded a flight from Moscow to Dubai. He was subsequently detained in Dubai with the assistance of the United Arab Emirates and extradited to Russia. President Vladimir Putin publicly thanked UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the assistance in apprehending the suspect.
Russian investigators also identified two alleged accomplices: Viktor Vasin, who was detained in Moscow, and Zinaida Serebritskaya, who reportedly fled to Ukraine.
International Reactions and Accusations
Following the accusations by Russian authorities, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha denied Kyiv's involvement in the attack. He also suggested the incident could be an internal Russian matter.
Lieutenant General Alexeyev's Background
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev has served as a first deputy head of Russia's military intelligence since 2011. He was awarded the Hero of Russia medal for his role in Russia's military campaign in Syria, where he led intelligence operations.
In June 2023, Alexeyev was involved in negotiations with mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin during the Wagner Group's brief mutiny, having been filmed speaking with Prigozhin when the group seized a military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don. Alexeyev publicly described Prigozhin's actions as a "stab in the back of the country and the president."
Alexeyev was sanctioned by the United States in 2016 for alleged malicious cyber activity. The European Union also sanctioned him in January 2019, linking him to the 2018 nerve agent attack in Salisbury, England, due to alleged responsibility for the possession, transport, and use of Novichok by GRU officers.
Broader Context: A "Shadow War"
The shooting of General Alexeyev occurs amidst a series of attacks targeting senior Russian military officers and public figures. Russian authorities have attributed these incidents to Ukraine, while Ukrainian military intelligence has claimed responsibility for some. This environment has been described as a "shadow war" between Russian and Ukrainian intelligence agencies.
Recent incidents include:
- December: Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, was killed by a car bomb in Moscow. Russian officials attributed this attack to Ukraine.
- Another December incident: Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, chief of the military’s nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces, was killed in Moscow by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter, which also killed his assistant. Ukraine’s security service claimed responsibility for this attack.
- April of the previous year: Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the main operational department in the General Staff, died in a car bomb attack near Moscow. A suspected perpetrator was reportedly arrested.
The incident involving General Alexeyev also took place one day after Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. negotiators concluded two days of talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine. The Kremlin spokesman noted the necessity for law enforcement agencies to enhance the protection of senior military officers during the ongoing conflict.