Russian Military Intelligence Deputy Chief Wounded in Moscow Shooting
In Moscow, a high-ranking member of Russia’s military intelligence was injured in a shooting incident on Friday, continuing a troubling trend of attacks on senior military officials. Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, the first deputy head of Russia’s military intelligence, was shot multiple times by an unidentified gunman at an apartment complex in the northwest of the city, according to statements from Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko. Gen. Alekseyev, who has held his position since 2011 and is a recipient of the Hero of Russia medal for his involvement in Russia’s military operations in Syria, is currently hospitalized.
The attack coincides with a period of heightened tension following a series of assassinations of Russian military officers, which Moscow attributes to Ukrainian operatives. Recently, Alekseyev was seen on video in June 2023 conversing with Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group, during the group’s short-lived rebellion in Rostov-on-Don.
The shooting incident happened shortly after the conclusion of peace talks in Abu Dhabi, where Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. representatives discussed potential resolutions to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Alekseyev’s superior, Adm. Igor Kostyukov, led the Russian delegation at these negotiations.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed that President Vladimir Putin had been notified of the incident and emphasized the need for increased security measures for senior military personnel amid the ongoing conflict. Since the onset of military operations in Ukraine nearly four years ago, Russian authorities have accused Ukraine of orchestrating several high-profile assassinations on Russian soil. While Ukraine has accepted responsibility for certain attacks, it has not yet commented on the recent attempt on Alekseyev’s life.
Past incidents include the December car bomb that killed Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, and an April car bomb that resulted in the death of Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik. A Russian national admitted to executing the attack on Moskalik, claiming he was commissioned by Ukraine’s security services. Following Moskalik’s death, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked on the “liquidation” of top Russian military figures, although he did not specifically name Moskalik.
In another earlier incident, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, chief of Russia’s nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces, was killed by a bomb concealed in an electric scooter in December 2024. Ukraine’s security service claimed responsibility for this attack.
