Russian General Gunned Down in Moscow
In this image made from video provided by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, on Jun. 23, 2023, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev speaks to servicemen at an undisclosed location. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
A senior figure in Russia’s military was shot in the stairwell of his apartment building in northwest Moscow on Friday. Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, deputy head of Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, was hit multiple times and hospitalized in critical condition, according to state media. The gunman has not been identified or arrested, The Guardian reports.
Alekseyev, 64, is one of the most prominent officers in Russia’s intelligence establishment and has long been involved in overseas covert operations. He was among the officials who briefed President Vladimir Putin ahead of the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He has also been linked to the Kremlin’s oversight of private military companies and was sent to negotiate with Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin during the brief mutiny in 2023.
The United States has sanctioned Alekseyev over alleged interference in the 2020 election. British authorities have accused him of overseeing the 2018 novichok poisoning in Salisbury, England, which targeted former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, according to The Telegraph.
No group has claimed responsibility for the shooting, but suspicion in Moscow quickly turned toward Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence services have carried out attacks on Russian officers and occupation officials since the war began. Some Russian politicians suggested the timing was significant, noting the attack occurred a day after Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Abu Dhabi and reported progress in talks. The Associated Press says the Russian delegation was led by Adm. Igor Kostyukov, Russia’s military intelligence chief.
Russian lawmaker Alexei Zhuravlev, without presenting evidence, said President Volodymyr Zelensky stood to benefit and called for those responsible to be “eliminated.” Ukraine has not commented on the shooting. In past incidents around Moscow, attempts on Russian generals have typically involved explosives rather than firearms.
Russian military bloggers have also questioned security at Alekseyev’s residence, asking how a gunman was able to enter the building without being detected, The Guardian reports.
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