Russia Identifies Three Suspects in Assassination Attempt on Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev

Russia - Ekhbary News Agency

Russia Identifies Three Suspects in Assassination Attempt on Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev

Russia has officially identified three individuals it claims are implicated in the recent shooting of Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, a prominent figure within Russia's military intelligence apparatus. The primary suspect named is Lyubomir Korba, described as a Russian citizen born in Ukraine, who is accused of carrying out the attack. According to the Russian Investigative Committee (SK), Korba allegedly arrived in Moscow in late December with instructions from Ukrainian intelligence services to execute a terrorist act.

The alleged assassination attempt, which occurred on Friday in a residential building in the northwestern part of Moscow, saw Lieutenant General Alexeyev, 64, sustain multiple gunshot wounds. He was promptly hospitalized and, according to Russian state media reports, has since regained consciousness following surgical intervention. Alexeyev holds a significant position as the deputy head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia (GRU), the country's military intelligence agency. His targeting marks the latest in a series of attacks against high-ranking military officials in or near the Russian capital since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine commenced in February 2022, a conflict that has irrevocably altered the geopolitical landscape.

Svetlana Petrenko, a spokeswoman for the SK, stated on Sunday that the assailant fired three shots before fleeing the scene. Preliminary investigations suggest that Korba subsequently travelled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) within hours of the shooting. Russian authorities, with the cooperation of UAE officials, successfully apprehended Korba and secured his extradition. Russian state television channel Ru-24 broadcast footage depicting security personnel escorting Korba off an aircraft at an undisclosed location, underscoring the international dimension of the investigation and apprehension.

During a thorough forensic examination of the crime scene, investigators reportedly recovered the weapon used in the attack: a Makarov pistol equipped with a silencer and three rounds of ammunition. These items have been submitted for further forensic analysis. The Kremlin has acknowledged the successful apprehension, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov reporting that President Vladimir Putin extended his gratitude to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday for the UAE's assistance in capturing the suspect. This diplomatic exchange highlights the complex international cooperation involved in tracking down individuals accused of such serious offenses.

In stark contrast to Russia's assertions, Kyiv has consistently denied any involvement in the incident. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, in statements to Reuters on Friday, asserted that Ukraine had no connection to the shooting, suggesting it might be an internal Russian affair. This divergence in narratives fuels the ongoing propaganda war and mutual suspicion that characterizes the broader conflict. However, Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, directly accused Kyiv of orchestrating the attack as a deliberate attempt to sabotage potential negotiations aimed at ending the war, which began in February 2022.

The attack on Alexeyev also brings into focus the professional circles he operates within. Alexeyev's superior, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, the head of the GRU, has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts, leading the Russian delegation in recent trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. The location of these talks, and the subsequent extradition of the suspect from the UAE, adds another layer of complexity to the geopolitical implications of this event.

The SK has indicated that Korba may not have acted alone, alleging the involvement of at least one accomplice. Viktor Vasin has been arrested and formally charged by Moscow authorities in connection with the case. Additionally, Zinaida Serebritskaya is believed to be involved; she has reportedly left for Ukraine, though the exact nature of her alleged role remains unspecified by investigators. The SK's statements on potential accomplices suggest a broader conspiracy may be under investigation.

This incident is not isolated. Ukraine has previously claimed responsibility for, or attributed attacks to, Russian military figures. Conversely, Russian intelligence agencies have reported thwarting assassination attempts on their personnel, including an alleged plot against a Russian soldier in St. Petersburg late last month. The current case adds to a pattern of targeted violence and alleged espionage that has become increasingly common since the escalation of hostilities.

The targeting of high-ranking military and intelligence officials has become a grim feature of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In January, an Uzbek national was sentenced for the 2024 killing of another Russian general, Igor Kirillov, who died in a bomb explosion outside his Moscow apartment building. At the time, sources within Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) indicated their agency's involvement. General Kirillov had been in charge of Russia's nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces, a critical role in military operations. Furthermore, in December 2025, another GRU officer, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, was killed by a car bomb in Moscow. He was responsible for the armed forces' operational training department. These incidents, whether confirmed or alleged, highlight the perilous environment in which senior military leaders operate.

Russia, too, is widely believed to have targeted Ukrainian military and political figures. Last July, Ukrainian security services announced they had foiled an assassination attempt against Serhiy Filimonov, a commander of a prominent assault unit known as the "Da Vinci Wolves." This followed the assassination of a senior Ukrainian intelligence officer in Kyiv, an act Ukraine attributed to Russian agents. The threats extend even to the highest levels of leadership, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly facing numerous assassination and kidnapping plots. Kyrylo Budanov, who until January headed Ukraine's military intelligence, has also publicly stated that he has been targeted, underscoring the pervasive nature of intelligence warfare and clandestine operations.

Ekhbary News Agency