MOSCOW – A brazen assassination attempt targeted a top Russian military intelligence officer in northwest Moscow on February 6, 2026. Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, deputy head of Russia’s military intelligence since 2011, was shot multiple times near a residential building on Volokolamskoye Highway.
The attack unfolded in broad daylight when an unidentified gunman opened fire on the general before fleeing the scene. Emergency services rushed Alekseyev to a city hospital, where he is battling for his life. Russia’s Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko confirmed the details, announcing the launch of a criminal probe under articles for attempted murder and illegal arms trafficking.
Investigators descended on the site immediately, combing through CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and witness statements. Search operations are underway to identify and apprehend the assailant or assailants. No motive or suspects have been publicly named yet, leaving authorities tight-lipped amid rising concerns over targeted hits on high-ranking officers.
This shocking incident adds to a disturbing pattern of violence against Russia’s military elite since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Just weeks ago, on December 22, 2025, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Army Operational Training Directorate, perished in a car bomb explosion in Moscow. Earlier, in April 2025, another car bomb claimed the life of Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik near Balashikha.
The string of assassinations has sparked fears of internal dissent or foreign sabotage, though official statements avoid speculation. As Moscow bolsters security around its defense leadership, questions swirl about vulnerabilities in the heart of Russia’s power structure. The investigation into Alekseyev’s shooting promises to uncover critical leads in this shadowy wave of attacks.