The top representative of Russian military intelligence, Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, was shot several times in his Moscow apartment building on Friday and taken to hospital. The 64-year-old official, whose work was recognized by President Vladimir Putin with the Hero of Russia award, was reportedly in a serious condition in hospital.
The unidentified gunman fired several shots at the Russian official before fleeing the scene, Reuters reported. The gunman fled and investigators searched for CCTV footage and began interviewing witnesses.
The incident occurred during the ongoing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Investigators reportedly said the shooting of Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alexeyev is the latest in a series of assassination attempts that Russia has blamed on Ukraine.
Who is Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev?
Vladimir Alexeyev is the deputy head of the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence. Such a position means the general would be closely involved in prosecuting Russia’s war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
Alexeyev, who was born in Ukraine when it was still part of the Soviet Union, was under US sanctions over Russian cyber-meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. He was sanctioned by the European Union over the poisoning of former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury in 2018.
How was the official shoot?
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev was immediately taken to hospital after the attack in a residential block on the northwestern edge of the Russian capital.
“The victim was hospitalized in one of the city’s hospitals,” said Svetlana Petrenko of the Russian Investigative Committee, which said it had opened criminal proceedings for attempted murder.
Alexeeva’s neighbor told Reuters she was woken by the sound of “several” gunshots and then heard another neighbor screaming for help.
Russian media outlet Kommersant reported that Alexeyev’s assailant lay in wait as Alexeyev left his apartment for work. He suffered gunshot wounds to his arm, leg and chest during the fight, the publication said, citing law enforcement sources.
Ukraine accused of shooting
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of being behind the assassination attempt, which he said – without providing evidence – was designed to sabotage peace talks.
Ukraine did not immediately comment.
Since the start of the war in 2022, Ukrainian military intelligence has claimed responsibility for the assassination of several senior Russian officers, some of whom appeared on the public list of enemies of Ukraine.
