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Russia identifies suspects in shooting of GRU general
Russian authorities have named three individuals allegedly involved in the attempted assassination of Lt Gen Vladimir Alexeyev, the deputy head of the GRU military intelligence agency. The attack occurred on Friday in a residential area on the outskirts of Moscow.
Key suspect arrested after fleeing to UAE
The primary suspect, Lyubomir Korba, a Ukrainian-born Russian citizen, was detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and extradited to Russia. According to Russia's Investigative Committee (SK), Korba entered Moscow in late December on orders from Ukrainian intelligence to carry out a terrorist act. Kyiv has denied any involvement.
Footage aired by Russian state TV Ru-24 showed security agents escorting Korba off a plane at an undisclosed location. Authorities recovered a Makarov pistol with a silencer and three rounds of ammunition at the crime scene, which is undergoing forensic analysis.
Alexeyev's condition stabilizes after surgery
Lt Gen Vladimir Alexeyev, 64, was hospitalized after sustaining gunshot wounds in the attack. Russian media reports confirm he has regained consciousness following emergency surgery. Alexeyev is the second-highest-ranking official in the GRU and the latest high-profile military figure targeted near Moscow since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Accomplices identified; one remains at large
SK spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko stated that Korba fired three shots before fleeing the scene and traveling to the UAE hours later. Investigators have also arrested Viktor Vasin in Moscow on related charges. A third suspect, Zinaida Serebritskaya, is believed to have fled to Ukraine, though Petrenko provided no further details on her role.
Diplomatic tensions escalate over attack
Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly thanked UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for assisting in Korba's capture. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Kyiv of orchestrating the attack to sabotage ongoing peace negotiations, which include trilateral talks with the U.S. in Abu Dhabi.
"Kyiv has nothing to do with this incident. It appears to be an internal Russian matter," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha told Reuters on Friday.
Pattern of attacks on Russian military leaders
Ukraine has previously claimed responsibility for strikes targeting Russian military officials. In January, an Uzbek national was imprisoned for the 2024 assassination of Gen Igor Kirillov, who led Russia's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection troops, in a Moscow apartment bombing. Ukrainian intelligence sources asserted involvement in that attack.
In December 2025, Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov, head of the GRU's operational training department, was killed by a car bomb in Moscow. The SK attributed the explosion to an improvised explosive device.
GRU delegation active in UAE talks
Alexeyev's superior, GRU chief Adm Igor Kostyukov, has been leading Russia's delegation in recent negotiations with Ukraine and the U.S. in Abu Dhabi. The timing of the attack has fueled speculation about its potential impact on the diplomatic process.
