Unknown assailants opened fire on Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU). The senior Russian security official had been decorated by the Kremlin for operations in Ukraine and Syria and was born near Vinnytsia.
The shooting took place in the entryway of a residential building on Volokolamskoye Highway in Moscow, Russian state media TASS reported on the morning of February 6.
The attackers fired several shots at Vladimir Alekseyev and fled the scene.
The Russian general was taken to a hospital; his condition was not immediately known.
The assailants have not been detained, Russian journalists wrote.
The incident involving GRU Lieutenant General Alekseyev occurred on the morning of February 6, according to Russian media.
The shooter likely acted alone.
The attacker allegedly fired several times into Alekseyev ’s back and fled; no arrest has been made.
According to the Baza channel, the senior officer survived; he is in serious condition and is now in the hospital.
Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case over the attack, Russian media said.
Russian outlets meanwhile added details about the assassination attempt in Moscow.
It emerged the attacker lay in wait for Alekseyev on the stairwell as he was leaving his apartment.
Neighbors said that after the shots, the top officer fell and lay there covered in blood but remained conscious.
They also complained that the building’s surveillance cameras had not been working for several days.
The channel of Russia’s Investigative Committee posted confirmation of the attempt on Alekseyev .
It said a case has been opened on attempted murder charges.
It also clarified there were several shots and that there are surveillance camera recordings.
Assassination attempt in Moscow - what is known about Alekseyev
Vladimir Alekseyev is a 64-year-old lieutenant general of Russia’s security services who was born in the Khmelnytskyi district of the Vinnytsia region (the village of Holodky).
After receiving professional training in Russia, he pursued a military career in the Russian army and in 2011 became first deputy chief of the GRU of the Russian General Staff.
Alekseyev was awarded the title “Hero of Russia” in 2017 for actions during the war in Syria.
According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (GUR), the lieutenant general is implicated in strikes on Ukraine and in the killing of Ukrainians.
Among other things, Alekseyev took part in the activities of the “Redut” private military company.
Ukrainian intelligence has said he provided reconnaissance for Russia’s armed forces and information for missile and air strikes on Ukraine.
It also says he organized the so-called “referendum” in the occupied part of Kherson region.
In addition, Ukraine’s GUR accuses the GRU officer of involvement in falsifying elections in the United States: conducting cyberattacks and compromising the electoral system.
Some details of Vladimir Stepanovych Alekseyev ’s activities were exposed by investigative journalist Christo Grozev.
The investigator found that the GRU general was involved behind the scenes of the “grain deal” and was also implicated in moving a Buk air-defense system into Ukraine in 2014 at the start of Russia’s hybrid invasion.
He has also been linked to crimes in Mariupol: taking part in discussions over the evacuation of defenders from Azovstal.
Separately, the UK placed Alekseyev under sanctions over his alleged role in the Novichok poisoning in Salisbury.
According to the outlet Graty, Alekseyev featured in a case involving the recruitment and creation of an agent network by then–Ukrainian MP Andriy Derkach.
Ukraine’s SBU also mentioned his contacts with then–GRU chief Igor Kostyukov, who in 2026 is representing Russia at talks in Abu Dhabi.
Focus has previously reported on other assassination attempts in Moscow involving senior Russian Defense Ministry officers.
One of the latest cases occurred in December 2025, when a car belonging to General Fanil Sarvarov exploded in the middle of the street.
And on December 1, there was an attempt on a developer of laser weapons for Russia’s armed forces: a car exploded in a residential courtyard.
