Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU), survived an attempted assassination in Moscow on 6/2 due to his quick actions, according to military correspondent Alexander Kots of Komsomolskaya Pravda on 8/2.

Alekseyev sustained three gunshot wounds, with two bullets striking his abdomen and one hitting his leg. This contradicts initial reports that he was shot at least three times in the chest. Kots suggested the suspect was unprepared for the general's resistance. "Alekseyev, a graduate of the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School, immediately understood what was happening. He quickly closed in on his opponent and prevented the suspect from pointing the gun at his head," Kots recounted. Lieutenant General Alekseyev was likely shot in the leg during a struggle with the suspect. "He fought back against the assassin. His lightning reflexes saved Alekseyev's life. His wife then applied a tourniquet to his leg to stop the bleeding and used available items to cover the abdominal wounds while waiting for emergency services," Kots stated.

Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU). *Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense*

The direct suspect in the assassination attempt, Lyubomir Korba, a 65-year-old Russian citizen, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and extradited to Russia on 8/2.

The Russian Investigative Committee accused Korba of arriving in Moscow in late 12/2025 "under the direction of the Security Service of Ukraine to carry out a terrorist attack". Korba's accomplices include Viktor Vasin, 66, arrested in Moscow, and Zinaida Serebritskaya, 54, who reportedly fled to Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called this an "act of terrorism" carried out by Kyiv to disrupt peace negotiations. Ukrainian officials, however, denied involvement.

Lieutenant General Alekseyev, 64, joined the military after high school and then attended the Ryazan School, a primary training ground for officers of the Soviet and Russian airborne forces. He also served in various special forces units before becoming an intelligence commander for the Moscow and Far Eastern Military Districts.

Russian media reported that Lieutenant General Alekseyev is out of critical condition, conscious, and able to communicate, but his overall state remains serious.

Thanh Danh (According to Zvezda, Reuters)