Deputy Chief of Russian Military Intelligence Shot in Moscow

In breaking news from Moscow, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, the deputy chief of Russian military intelligence, was shot and wounded on Friday, according to statements by officials reported by the Associated Press. Alekseyev was shot multiple times by an unidentified assailant and has since been hospitalized. The Investigative Committee spokesperson, Svetlana Petrenko, did not disclose any information regarding potential suspects in the attack. Alekseyev has held the position of first deputy head of Russia's military intelligence, the GRU, since 2011. His prominence in the organization comes at a time when several high-ranking military officials have been targeted and killed following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As investigations unfold, Russian authorities are reportedly analyzing CCTV footage from the crime scene and interviewing eyewitnesses. There are initial reports indicating that the attacker fired several bullets at Alekseyev. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the shooting yet, suspicions in Moscow are likely to point toward Kyiv. This is consistent with prior actions by Ukrainian intelligence agencies that have targeted numerous Russian military officers and officials accused of war crimes since the onset of the conflict. Alekseyev has been recognized as a significant figure overseeing Russia's private military companies and played a notable role in negotiations with Yevgeny Prigozhin during the Wagner Group's short-lived mutiny in the summer of 2023. Furthermore, Alekseyev is under U.S. sanctions for his alleged participation in efforts to interfere with the 2020 presidential election in the United States. This incident raises serious questions about the security of military officials in Russia and underscores the ongoing tensions and complex dynamics of the conflict with Ukraine. As the investigation progresses, further updates will shed light on the circumstances of this shocking attack. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2