Russian general shot multiple times in Moscow shooting

MOSCOW: A senior Russian military general was shot and wounded inside his apartment building in Moscow on Friday, investigators said, in the latest attack on a high-ranking security figure since the start of the Ukraine war.

Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, the deputy head of Russia’s military intelligence agency GRU, was shot multiple times by an unidentified assailant who fled the scene after opening fire, investigators said. Alexeyev was rushed to hospital and is reported to be in serious condition.

Russian authorities said the 64-year-old official sustained gunshot wounds to his arm, leg and chest during the attack. Alexeyev has been awarded the title of “Hero of Russia” by President Vladimir Putin for his service.

Alexeyev, who was born in Ukraine during the Soviet era, has been under Western sanctions. The United States sanctioned him over alleged Russian cyber interference in the 2016 US presidential election, while the European Union imposed sanctions over the 2018 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK city of Salisbury.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of being behind the assassination attempt, claiming it was aimed at undermining ongoing peace efforts. Ukraine has not commented on the allegations.

Since the start of the war in 2022, Ukrainian military intelligence has claimed responsibility for killing several senior Russian officers. Some of those targeted have appeared on a publicly available list of individuals described by Kyiv as enemies.

Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing law enforcement sources, reported that the attacker had been waiting for Alexeyev as he left his apartment to go to work. Reports suggested the assailant may have posed as a delivery worker, though a neighbour said security cameras in the building were functioning properly.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had been briefed on the incident and that Russia’s security agencies had launched an investigation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said authorities hoped Alexeyev would survive and recover.

“It is clear that senior military officials are at risk during wartime,” Peskov said, adding that responsibility for their security lies with the country’s special services.

The shooting has raised questions among pro-Kremlin commentators and members of the public over the level of protection provided to senior officials.

Alexeyev worked closely with Russia’s defence leadership and was responsible for coordination between the Defence Ministry and the Wagner mercenary group. He also played a role in negotiations during the brief mutiny led by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023.

His superior, GRU chief Admiral Igor Kostyukov, has been leading Russia’s delegation in security-related talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. The Kremlin said the latest round of discussions ended on Thursday and described them as constructive, with further talks expected.

Since December 2024, at least three other senior Russian officials of similar rank have been killed in or near Moscow, including a general who died after a bomb was planted under his car last year.