Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, a senior Russian military intelligence official, was shot in his Moscow apartment building and is in serious condition in the hospital, according to investigators. An unknown gunman fired multiple shots at him before fleeing. Alexeyev, who has a significant role in Russia’s actions in Ukraine, has previously received a Hero of Russia award from President Vladimir Putin.
Alexeyev, 64, was born in Ukraine and has faced U. S. sanctions for cyber interference during the 2016 U. S. presidential election and European Union sanctions related to the poisoning of a former Russian agent in 2018. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of attempting to assassinate Alexeyev, alleging it was an effort to disrupt peace discussions, although no evidence was provided for this claim. Ukraine did not respond immediately.
Since the war began in 2022, Ukraine has taken responsibility for several high-profile assassinations of Russian officials. Reports indicate that Alexeyev’s attacker waited for him to leave for work and shot him during a struggle, injuring him in the arm, leg, and chest. The Kremlin expressed hope for his recovery, and Putin has been informed about the incident while the intelligence services investigate.
Some Russian journalists and citizens questioned how such a high-ranking official could lack adequate security. A neighbor mentioned that CCTV in the building had been functioning properly, which could help identify the shooter. Alexeyev’s supervisor, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, has been engaging in negotiations with Ukraine for a potential peace deal. Additionally, three other high-ranking officials have been killed in similar circumstances since December 2024, raising concerns about the safety of military leaders.
With information from Reuters
