In brief
The Russian Investigations Committee has named three suspects involved in the shooting of Lt Gen Vladimir Alexeyev, a key figure in the GRU military intelligence. The primary suspect, Lyubomir Korba, allegedly executed the attack upon directions from Ukrainian intelligence, though Kyiv has denied any involvement. The attack has raised concerns about the security of military officials amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
Russia has identified three suspects involved in the shooting of high-profile military general Lt Gen Vladimir Alexeyev. Among them is the alleged gunman, identified as Russian citizen Lyubomir Korba.
The Russian Investigations Committee (SK) claims Korba entered Moscow in late December to commit a terrorist act on behalf of Ukrainian intelligence services. However, Kyiv has categorically denied these accusations.
Lt Gen Alexeyev, 64, underwent surgery after being shot in a residential area of north-western Moscow. Reports indicate that he has regained consciousness following the operation.
SK spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko reported that Korba fired three shots before fleeing the scene and subsequently traveled to the United Arab Emirates hours later. He was later arrested and extradited back to Russia.
State television aired footage of Korba being escorted off a plane by security agents. Investigators recovered a Makarov pistol, the murder weapon, at the crime scene, and forensic tests are underway.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister dismissed the shooting as irrelevant to Ukraine, suggesting it might be an internal matter for Russia. In contrast, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Kyiv of orchestrating the attack to influence ongoing peace negotiations.
Lt Gen Alexeyev is the latest high-ranking military official targeted amid escalating tensions following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. His superior, GRU chief Adm Igor Kostyukov, has been actively participating in peace talks with Ukrainian and U.S. officials.
Korba allegedly had an accomplice, Viktor Vasin, who has been arrested and charged, and another suspect, Zinaida Serebritskaya, reportedly left for Ukraine after the incident.
This shooting incident mirrors earlier attempts on military officials in Russia, escalating concerns over security and internal conflicts within the military hierarchy.
