Moscow: Russian security authorities have announced the arrest and repatriation of a suspect believed to be involved in a brazen assassination attempt on a senior military intelligence officer in the heart of Moscow. The announcement by the Federal Security Service (FSB) marks a dramatic development in a case that has drawn swift international attention and raised tensions amid ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict dynamics.
On February 6, Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, the first deputy chief of Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) one of the country’s most powerful intelligence institutions was shot multiple times inside a residential building in Moscow. The attack occurred in broad daylight, leaving the general seriously wounded and requiring emergency surgery, according to investigators and state media reports.
In a statement on Sunday, the FSB said it had detained Lyubomir Korba, a Russian citizen suspected of carrying out the shooting, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and transferred him to Russia for questioning. The statement did not detail how the arrest was carried out, but indicated cooperation between Russian and Emirati authorities. Alexeyev, who was hospitalised following the shooting, is reportedly in recovery, with some reports indicating that the immediate threat to his life has passed.
Russia’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, quickly pointed fingers at Ukraine, asserting without public evidence that the alleged assassination attempt was orchestrated to derail peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. Lavrov claimed the attack was a deliberate effort to undermine diplomatic efforts. Ukrainian officials have denied involvement, with the Foreign Ministry stating that Kyiv had nothing to do with the incident.
The shooting took place against the backdrop of ongoing discussions in Abu Dhabi, where Admiral Igor Kostyukov, the head of the GRU and Alexeyev’s superior, has been leading Russian delegation talks with Ukraine on security-related aspects of a possible peace agreement. Analysts say the timing of the attack coming during sensitive negotiations has amplified speculation about motives and implications, though concrete evidence linking external actors to the incident has not been made public.
The targeting of a senior GRU commander is a rare and striking event, given the typically clandestine nature of intelligence activities. The GRU is responsible for strategic military intelligence and special operations, and its senior officers are considered high-value targets. Prior to the shooting, Alexeyev had been subject to Western sanctions, including by the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, for his alleged involvement in covert operations.
In the days following the attack, some Russian media outlets cited sources suggesting that authorities were investigating the involvement of multiple suspects, with at least two individuals expected to be questioned in connection with the assassination attempt. However, official confirmation about additional arrests beyond Korba has not been released by the FSB.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely. Observers note that the incident has the potential to influence diplomatic and security dialogues, particularly as both Russia and Ukraine navigate complex negotiations aimed at de-escalation and conflict resolution. The case underscores the volatile security environment surrounding senior military figures amid the protracted conflict.