A senior Russian military intelligence officer has been seriously wounded in a shooting in Moscow, Russian authorities said on Friday, according to the BBC.
Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alexeyev is the first deputy head of the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, and a key figure in Russia’s military operations against Ukraine. He has allegedly been involved in planning strikes on Ukrainian targets, negotiating during the siege of Mariupol in 2022, and coordinating with Russia’s Wagner mercenary group.
Gunman opens fire inside Moscow apartment building
Russia’s Investigative Committee said an unknown attacker opened fire on Alexeyev. State media reported that Alexeyev was injured and taken to hospital.
According to investigators, the shooting took place inside a residential building on Volokolamsk Highway in northwestern Moscow. The attacker fled the scene and is still being sought. No further details about the motive or weapon have been released.
Russian officials quickly blamed Ukraine, claiming the attack was intended to disrupt talks aimed at ending the war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the shooting as a “terrorist act.”
Alexeyev's role in Ukraine: from Azovstal to civilian strikes
Alexeyev is the second-in-command of the GRU and one of the highest-ranking Russian military figures targeted since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In 2022, Alexeyev took part in negotiations during the siege of Mariupol and was the senior Russian representative involved in talks over the surrender of Ukrainian forces from the Azovstal steel plant.
Azov Brigade commander Denys Prokopenko said Alexeyev personally guaranteed that Russia would adhere to the Geneva Conventions regarding Ukrainian prisoners of war. Prokopenko said those promises were later broken, pointing to reported torture, lack of medical care, and abuse of captured Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukraine’s military intelligence has previously accused Alexeyev of overseeing preparations for strikes on civilian targets in Ukraine and of involvement in organizing Russia’s so-called referendum in occupied parts of Kherson region.
Shooting comes as GRU chief leads Abu Dhabi talks
His direct superior, GRU chief Igor Kostyukov, is currently leading Russia’s delegation in talks with US and Ukrainian representatives. The latest round of negotiations took place in Abu Dhabi this week.
Western governments have previously sanctioned Alexeyev and other senior GRU officials over the agency’s role in chemical weapons attacks, including the 2018 Novichok poisoning in Salisbury, UK.
Several high-ranking Russian military figures have been killed or injured in attacks in recent years, most often involving explosives. The shooting of Alexeyev marks a rare case of a gun attack against a senior general in Moscow.
