Photo: Screenshot from the video
An assassination attempt was carried out in Moscow on Friday morning, February 6, against Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev of Russia’s Ministry of Defense, the Russian Investigative Committee reported. According to Russian media, Alekseyev was hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
Preliminary reports indicate that an unknown assailant fired several shots into Alekseyev’s back inside a residential building on Volokolamskoye Highway before fleeing the scene. Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti, citing an official representative of the Investigative Committee, said the attack occurred on the 24th floor of the building, where the attacker opened fire on the senior Defense Ministry official.
As a result of the shooting, Alekseyev was wounded and taken to hospital.
Vladimir Alekseyev has served as first deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the Russian General Staff since 2011. Media outlets have described him as one of the main overseers of Russian “volunteer” formations involved in the war against Ukraine.
Russian sources also recall that in 2023, during the so-called Prigozhin mutiny, Alekseyev recorded a video address to fighters of the Wagner private military company, urging them to abandon further actions. He was also involved in negotiations with Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
In December 2016, Alekseyev was placed under U.S. sanctions over cyberattacks aimed at influencing the U.S. presidential election. Since 2019, he has also been under European Union sanctions in connection with the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury.
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) has described Alekseyev as an international criminal involved in the mass killing of civilians in Syria, including women and children, as well as in the killing of Ukrainians.
According to the HUR, Alekseyev was responsible for organizing and preparing targeting data for missile and air strikes against Ukraine, including attacks on civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian intelligence also says he was involved in organizing the so-called “referendum” in the Russian-occupied Kherson region.
