Russia has confirmed the identification of three suspects involved in the shooting of high-profile military figure Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev. The most notable among them is Lyubomir Korba, a Ukrainian-born Russian citizen, who is accused of executing the attack.
The Investigative Committee of Russia (SK) reported that Korba entered Moscow in December under orders from Ukrainian intelligence with the aim of committing a terrorist act. Ukraine, however, promptly denied any involvement in the shooting.
Alexeyev, aged 64 and second-in-command at Russia's main military intelligence agency, the GRU, was shot and subsequently hospitalized after the incident which occurred at a residential complex in northern Moscow. Following surgery, reports indicate he has regained consciousness.
Svetlana Petrenko, a spokesperson for the SK, stated that the assailant fired three shots before fleeing the scene. Korba allegedly traveled to the United Arab Emirates shortly thereafter, where he was arrested and later extradited back to Russia. Russian state television aired footage of his apprehension upon arriving on a flight from the UAE.
Authorities recovered the murder weapon — a Makarov pistol equipped with a silencer and multiple rounds of ammunition — from the scene, and forensic tests are currently underway.
President Vladimir Putin reportedly expressed gratitude towards the UAE for their assistance in capturing Korba. Following the attack, officials in Moscow have raised concerns about the targeting of high-ranking military figures amidst the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, especially since it marks another violent incident against such officials in the aftermath of the full-scale invasion that began in February 2022.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has suggested that Kyiv is attempting to undermine peace negotiations through this attack, which Ukraine denies, framing the shooting as a potential internal affair within Russia.
The situation remains tense as the political atmosphere surrounding the war continues to evolve, with accusations of assassination attempts and military operations being exchanged between the two nations.
