Top GRU Deputy Shot in Moscow Residential Building as Authorities Open Case

Overview

• Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a criminal case for attempted homicide and illegal firearms trafficking and launched search operations for the assailant.
• Lieutenant General Alekseyev was taken to a hospital in Moscow, and officials have not disclosed his condition.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said security services bear responsibility for protecting senior officers and confirmed that President Vladimir Putin was briefed.
• Ukrainian authorities had not commented, though Kyiv has previously claimed responsibility for some attacks on Russian commanders since 2022.
• Alekseyev serves as first deputy head of the GRU, previously led operations in Syria, and negotiated with Wagner’s Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023, while his chief Igor Kostyukov has been leading recent Abu Dhabi talks.