Russia Extradites Suspect After Shooting of GRU Deputy Chief
Investigative Committee says Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, 64, was shot three times in his northwest Moscow stairwell and has regained consciousness after surgery.
Overview
Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said on Sunday that Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, 64, was shot three times on Feb. 6, 2026, in the stairwell of his northwest Moscow apartment building, hospitalized after surgery and has since regained consciousness, Russian media reported.
The shooting occurred a day after U.S., Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4-5, 2026, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Kyiv sought to derail talks while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Kyiv had nothing to do with the attack, according to Russian statements and Reuters.
The Federal Security Service said it detained Russian citizen Lyubomir Korba in Dubai, extradited him to Moscow and identified two alleged accomplices — Viktor Vasin, who was arrested in Moscow, and Zinaida Serebritskaya, who has left for Ukraine, officials said.
Investigators recovered a Makarov pistol with a silencer and three rounds at the scene, Petrenko said, and Russian authorities described the shooting as the latest in a string of attacks on senior officers since the 2022 invasion, citing the Jan. 2024 killing of General Igor Kirillov and the Dec. 2025 death of Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov.
President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the attack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called for stepped-up protection for senior officers, and the Investigative Committee said it opened a criminal case, is conducting forensic tests and reviewing surveillance footage and eyewitness interviews.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the story largely neutrally, sticking to attributed facts and official statements. Editorial choices prioritize chronology and context—listing prior attacks and sanctions—while contentious claims (e.g., Lavrov calling it a 'terrorist act') are clearly presented as source content. Coverage includes Kyiv's denials, avoiding editorialized language or unexplained omissions.
Sources (6)
FAQ
Vladimir Stepanovich Alekseyev, born April 24, 1961, in Ukraine (then Soviet Union), is a Russian lieutenant general serving as first deputy head of the GRU (Main Intelligence Directorate) since 2011. He led operations in Syria and Ukraine, was awarded Hero of Russia medal in 2023, and was sanctioned by US and EU for cyber interference and Skripal poisoning.[1]
On February 6, 2026, Alekseyev was shot three times (arm, leg, chest) in a struggle in his northwest Moscow apartment stairwell by a suspect using a Makarov pistol with silencer. He underwent surgery, regained consciousness, and investigators recovered the weapon and three rounds.
Russian citizen Lyubomir Korba was detained in Dubai, extradited to Moscow; Viktor Vasin arrested in Moscow; Zinaida Serebritskaya fled to Ukraine. A criminal case is open with forensic tests, surveillance review, and eyewitness interviews.[1]
It occurred one day after Russia-Ukraine-US talks in Abu Dhabi on Feb 4-5, 2026. Russia views it as part of attacks on senior officers since 2022 Ukraine invasion, including Gen. Igor Kirillov's Jan 2024 killing and Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov's Dec 2025 death. Putin was briefed; protection urged.[1]
Sanctioned by US for 2016 election cyber interference and EU for 2018 Skripal poisoning. Involved in Syria campaign, Wagner Group relations, 2022 Black Sea Grain talks, and alleged 2019-2020 Ukraine election interference operations.
History
3 sources