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By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
MOSCOW — A high-ranking Russian general and a key figure in the country’s military intelligence apparatus was shot and critically wounded Friday morning in what authorities are describing as a targeted assassination attempt in the heart of the capital.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, the first deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff (GRU), was ambushed outside a residential building on Volokolamsk Highway in northwestern Moscow. According to the Russian Investigative Committee, an unidentified assailant fired several shots into Alekseyev’s back before fleeing the scene on foot.
“The victim has been hospitalized in one of the city’s medical facilities,” stated Svetlana Petrenko, spokesperson for the Investigative Committee. “Investigative actions and operational search measures are currently underway to identify the person or persons involved in this crime.”
Alekseyev, 64, is a veteran intelligence officer who has served as the GRU’s first deputy chief since 2011. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the Russian military, having overseen intelligence for campaigns in Syria and Ukraine. Notably, he was also a primary negotiator during the 2023 Wagner Group mutiny and is believed to have played a significant role in managing private military companies.
❌ An assassination attempt was made on Lieutenant General of the Russian Defense Ministry, Vladimir Alekseev, in Moscow
Today, an unknown person fired several shots at the man as he was leaving his home on Volokolamskoe Shosse, after which he fled the scene.
The high-ranking… pic.twitter.com/Zk93CCpY0d
— Kakka🎖️ (@kakkamax) February 6, 2026
The timing of the attack has fueled intense speculation in Moscow. The shooting occurred just one day after high-level delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Abu Dhabi for tentative peace discussions. Some Russian lawmakers were quick to point toward Kyiv, suggesting the hit was a deliberate attempt to derail diplomatic progress.
“An attempt on Alekseyev’s life is the best way to sabotage these talks,” said Alexei Zhuravlev, a member of the Russian parliament, calling the general one of the “most authoritative” figures in the armed forces.
The Kremlin has not yet issued a formal statement on the motive behind the shooting, though a criminal case for attempted murder and illegal firearms trafficking has been opened. Moscow’s police have launched a massive manhunt, reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding neighborhood and questioning eyewitnesses.
This incident is the latest in a series of high-profile attacks against Russian security and military officials within Russia since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. While Ukraine has not officially claimed responsibility for this morning’s shooting, its intelligence services have previously acknowledged involvement in operations targeting Russian officials.