Suspect in Russian General Alekseyev Shooting Extradited from Dubai to Russia

Suspect Extradited Following High-Level Diplomatic Engagement

A suspect identified as Lyubomir Korba, a Russian citizen, has been detained in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and subsequently extradited to Russia in connection with the assassination attempt on Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev. The extradition was facilitated after a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during which President Putin expressed gratitude for the UAE's assistance in the matter.

Details of the Attack on General Alekseyev

The assassination attempt on Lieutenant General Alekseyev, 64, occurred on February 6, 2026, around 7 am local time, in a residential building near Volokolamsk Highway in Moscow. An assailant reportedly shot him multiple times with a silenced pistol in the stairwell of his apartment building. Following the attack, Alekseyev was immediately transported to a hospital, where he was reported to be in critical condition, having undergone surgery and remaining in intensive care.

Investigation and Apprehension of Suspects

The Federal Security Service (FSB) identified Lyubomir Korba, born in 1960 and described as Ukrainian-born, as the direct perpetrator of the assassination attempt. Korba reportedly fled Russia hours after the attack and was detained in Dubai between February 7 and 8, 2026, with the assistance of local law enforcement agencies, before being extradited to Russia. The Kremlin confirmed that President Putin thanked UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the 'effective cooperation between the two countries' security agencies' during their phone conversation on the evening of February 7.

The investigation has also led to the identification of two alleged accomplices. Viktor Vasin was detained in Moscow, while Zinaida Serebrytska reportedly fled to Ukraine. Vasin is believed to have provided logistical and financial support to Korba.

General Alekseyev's Role and International Context

Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev serves as the first deputy head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU), a position he has held since 2011. He is known for his involvement in providing intelligence for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and for overseeing private military companies. Alekseyev also played a role in negotiations during the Wagner group's mutiny in June 2023.

Internationally, Alekseyev has been subject to sanctions by the United States and the United Kingdom due to his alleged involvement in efforts to interfere in the 2020 US presidential election and the 2018 Novichok attack in Salisbury. While Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov characterized the attack as a 'terrorist attack' and attributed it to Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha denied any involvement, suggesting it could be a result of 'Russian in-fighting.'