Russian authorities have formally identified three individuals allegedly involved in the shooting of Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, the deputy head of Russia’s GRU military intelligence. The Investigative Committee (SK) has named Russian citizen Lyubomir Korba as the primary suspect who allegedly carried out the attack under directives from Ukrainian intelligence services.
The incident occurred Friday in a residential complex in Moscow’s northwestern outskirts, where the 64-year-old general was shot three times before the assailant fled. After undergoing emergency surgery, Alexeyev has reportedly regained consciousness according to Russian media sources.
Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko detailed that Korba traveled to the United Arab Emirates hours after the shooting but was subsequently arrested and extradited back to Russia. State television channel Ru-24 broadcast footage showing security personnel escorting Korba from an aircraft at an undisclosed location.
Forensic examination revealed the weapon used was a Makarov pistol equipped with a silencer and three rounds of ammunition. Petrenko further indicated that at least two accomplices were involved—Viktor Vasin, who has been arrested in Moscow, and Zinaida Serebritskaya, believed to have fled to Ukraine.
The attack represents the latest targeting of high-ranking Russian military officials since the commencement of full-scale hostilities in Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has categorically denied Kyiv’s involvement, characterizing the incident as an internal Russian matter. Conversely, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Ukraine of attempting to disrupt ongoing peace negotiations.
The context is particularly sensitive given that Alexeyev’s superior, GRU head Admiral Igor Kostyukov, has been leading Russian delegations in trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi. This incident follows previous attacks on Russian military leadership, including the January 2024 killing of General Igor Kirillov and the December 2025 assassination of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, both of which Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service allegedly claimed responsibility for.