In brief
The Russian Investigations Committee has named three suspects in the shooting of Lt Gen Vladimir Alexeyev, involving a Ukrainian-born Russian citizen accused of executing the attack. The incident, which took place in a residential area in Moscow, has prompted international attention and responses regarding involvement from Ukrainian intelligence.
Russia has identified three suspects connected to the shooting of Lt Gen Vladimir Alexeyev, a prominent figure within the military's GRU intelligence agency. Among the suspects is Ukrainian-born Russian national Lyubomir Korba, who stands accused of conducting the attack on behalf of Ukrainian intelligence. The incident occurred in a residential block on the outskirts of Moscow, where Alexeyev was shot three times before being hospitalized; he has reportedly regained consciousness since then. Authorities claim Korba entered Moscow in late December with intentions to execute a terrorist act. Following the shooting, he managed to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he was eventually arrested. The Russian government expressed its gratitude towards the UAE for their cooperation in apprehending Korba. Surveillance footage aired on Russian state media showed Korba being escorted off a plane.Details surrounding the attack are shrouded in controversy, with Ukrainian officials denying any connection, framing it instead as a domestic Russian conflict. Conversely, Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, have accused Ukraine of attempting to sabotage mediation efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict that flared up following the invasion in February 2022.Furthermore, the incident highlights the ongoing trend of targeting high-ranking military officials in Russia, as Alexeyev is the latest in a series of military figures attacked amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
