Senior Russian Military Intelligence Officer Shot in Apparent Assassination Attempt in Moscow

A high-ranking Russian general was shot multiple times in an apparent assassination attempt at a residential building in northwest Moscow on Friday morning, according to Russian officials and state media reports.

Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev (also spelled Alexeyev), deputy chief of Russia’s Main Directorate of the General Staff, commonly known as the GRU, the country’s military intelligence agency, was rushed to hospital after the attack. He is reported to be in serious or critical condition, with some sources describing him as fighting for his life in intensive care.

The incident occurred on Volokolamskoye Highway when an unidentified assailant fired several shots at Alekseyev, reportedly including in the back, before fleeing the scene. Russia’s Investigative Committee, which handles major crimes, has opened a case for attempted murder and confirmed the details in a statement.

Alekseyev, a career military officer and first deputy head of the GRU, has been a prominent figure in Russia’s defense establishment. He was involved in negotiations during the short-lived Wagner Group mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin in June 2023 and has been linked to operations related to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the shooting, and the perpetrator remains at large. Russian authorities have not publicly identified a motive or suspect.

The situation remains under investigation, with further details expected as the probe continues.