Top Russian General Hospitalized After Shooting
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, the 64-year-old first deputy head of Russia's Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU), was shot multiple times on Friday, February 6, 2026, in an apparent assassination attempt in Moscow. He was immediately hospitalized and is reported to be in critical condition.
Details of the Attack and Investigation
The shooting occurred in Alekseyev's apartment building, located in the northwest of Moscow near Volokolamsk Highway. Reports indicate he was shot several times, including in the arm, leg, chest, and back. The assailant, who remains unidentified, fled the scene after the attack. One account from the newspaper Kommersant suggests the attacker may have posed as a food delivery courier. The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on charges of attempted murder and illegal firearms trafficking, with investigations currently underway.
Lieutenant General Alekseyev's Background and Role
General Alekseyev has served as the first deputy head of the GRU since 2011, making him the No. 2 officer in Russia's military intelligence agency. His distinguished career includes being awarded the Hero of Russia medal for his involvement in the Russian military campaign in Syria. He has also faced international scrutiny, having been sanctioned by the United States for alleged cyber interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and by the European Union and United Kingdom in connection with the 2018 Salisbury nerve agent attack. Notably, Alekseyev was seen on state television in June 2023 engaging with mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin during the Wagner Group's brief mutiny.
Broader Context and Official Reactions
The shooting of Lieutenant General Alekseyev is the latest in a series of attacks on senior Russian military officials, incidents which Russia has frequently attributed to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Ukraine of attempting to assassinate Alekseyev, describing it as an 'apparent terrorist act,' though no evidence was immediately provided to support this claim. Ukrainian authorities have not yet issued a response. The incident occurred just one day after Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. negotiators concluded two days of talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with Alekseyev's supervisor, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, leading the Russian delegation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin has been informed of the attack and emphasized the need for law enforcement agencies to enhance protection for senior military officers.
5 Comments
Comandante
An assassination attempt is never the answer, regardless of the target.
Bermudez
Accusations against Ukraine are quick to surface, yet the lack of immediate evidence makes one wonder about the true perpetrators. This incident highlights the deep internal and external pressures facing the Russian leadership.
BuggaBoom
Targeting individuals like this sets a dangerous precedent. Not good for anyone.
Noir Black
Justice served for a sanctioned war criminal. What goes around comes around.
KittyKat
It's tempting to see this as poetic justice given his history with sanctions and the Salisbury attack. However, resorting to extrajudicial violence, even against an adversary, raises serious ethical questions and risks a cycle of retaliation.