GRU Deputy Chief Survives Moscow Shooting in High‑Profile Assassination Attempt

Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, the First Deputy Head of Russia’s GRU military intelligence, was shot multiple times by an unidentified gunman in a residential building on Moscow’s north‑western outskirts on Friday. Russian authorities have opened an attempted murder investigation, and the attacker remains at large.

Alekseyev, one of Russia’s most influential intelligence figures and long associated with cyber operations and covert military activities, was rushed to the hospital. His exact condition has not been disclosed, though Russian media report that he survived the attack.

The Attack

• The shooting occurred near or inside a residential building on Volokolamsk(oye) Highway, a district in north‑west Moscow.
• Reports indicate the assailant waited for Alekseyev before firing several shots, striking him in the back.
• The gunman fled immediately, and investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses.

Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed that a criminal case for attempted murder has been opened.

Who Is Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev?

Alekseyev has served as GRU’s second‑in‑command since 2011, making him one of the most powerful figures in Russian military intelligence. His career spans decades of covert operations, cyber activities, and overseas military planning.

Key Background

• Cyber Operations:
  Sanctioned by the United States in 2016 for allegedly masterminding “malicious cyber activities” during the U.S. presidential election.
• Salisbury Novichok Attack:
  Accused by the UK and EU of orchestrating the 2018 poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. A British civilian later died after exposure to the discarded nerve agent.
• Ukraine War:
  Western and Ukrainian sources link him to targeting operations, pseudo‑referendums, and occupation administration efforts in Russian‑held territories.
• Wagner Rebellion (2023):
  Played a role in negotiations with Yevgeny Prigozhin during the short‑lived mutiny.
• Honors:
  Awarded the title Hero of Russia by the Kremlin in 2017/2019 (reported variably).

Official Reactions

Russian officials have not publicly identified a motive. However:

• Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of orchestrating the attack as a “terrorist act” aimed at disrupting ongoing negotiations. Kyiv has not commented and has previously denied involvement in similar incidents.
• Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that security services are “doing their job” and that President Vladimir Putin is being kept informed.

Context: A Pattern of High‑Level Attacks

This shooting follows a series of violent incidents targeting senior Russian military officials:

• December 2025: Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov died in a car bombing in Moscow.
• Other attacks in recent years have been attributed by Russian authorities to Ukrainian intelligence operations, though independent verification is often limited.

The latest incident underscores the growing vulnerability of high‑ranking Russian security figures, particularly those involved in cyber operations, foreign interventions, and the Ukraine conflict.

Investigation Underway

Authorities continue to search for the suspect and analyze forensic evidence from the scene. No arrests have been announced, and no group has claimed responsibility. The Investigative Committee has pledged a full inquiry into what is being treated as a high‑priority national security case.