Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Monday that Ukraine’s Security Service had ordered an attempt to assassinate General Vladimir Alexeyev, according to Interfax.

The FSB also alleged that Polish intelligence played a role in recruiting the suspect, but offered no evidence to support the claims.

However, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha rejected any link to the shooting, telling Reuters, "We don't know what happened with that particular general - maybe it was their own internal Russian in-fighting."

Russian authorities say Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), was shot three times with a Makarov pistol fitted with a silencer.

The attack took place on Friday in an apartment block on the Volokolamsk highway in northern Moscow.

Alexeyev, 64, underwent surgery and has regained consciousness, his wife told a Russian blogger, saying he is "able to talk".

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian-born Russian citizen was extradited to Moscow from Dubai on Sunday on suspicion of gravely injuring one of Russia's most senior intelligence officers, according to Russian security officials and investigators.

Investigators described the suspect as a Russian citizen born in the Ternopil region of Soviet Ukraine and alleged that Ukrainian intelligence had tasked him with the shooting. Kyiv has denied any involvement.

Russian media broadcast a video of masked FSB officers escorting a blindfolded man from a small jet in darkness.

The FSB said two alleged accomplices were also identified: one was detained in Moscow while another fled to Ukraine, according to investigators.

President Vladimir Putin thanked UAE leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his assistance in the detention, according to Russia's foreign ministry.

The United Arab Emirates has not disclosed how the suspect was apprehended.

• Russia to question suspects after senior general shot in Moscow

Questions over security

The attack occurred just 12 km north of the Kremlin and has sparked questions inside Russia over how a senior intelligence figure could be tracked and targeted.

Alexeyev is one of the most prominent officials involved in Russia's military operations in Ukraine.

GRU chief Admiral Igor Kostyukov is currently leading Russia’s delegation in security-related talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.

Since December 2024, three officials of Alexeyev’s rank have been killed in or near Moscow.

Behind the front lines, Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in what Russian officials call a "hybrid" shadow conflict involving cyber operations, disinformation, covert sabotage and targeted killings.

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Reaction from Russian figures

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Putin had been briefed and that Russia’s intelligence services were investigating.

“It is clear that military commanders and high-level specialists are at risk during wartime,” he said.

The GRU’s influence spans covert overseas networks, special forces and advanced cyber units.

Jailed Russian nationalist Igor Girkin, a former FSB officer who has criticised Russia’s military leadership, praised Alexeyev’s "energy and courage" but called the attack a major setback.

"This is a serious blow to our special services," he said on Telegram on Sunday (8 February).

Alexeyev became widely known during Yevgeny Prigozhin’s failed Wagner mutiny in June 2023, when he appeared attempting to calm the mercenary chief.

In a widely shared video, Prigozhin said he had come to seize the then-defence minister Sergei Shoigu and General Valery Gerasimov.

Alexeyev responded, "Take them then," with a brief chuckle.

The mutiny collapsed and Prigozhin died two months later in a plane crash in August caused by hand grenades detonating inside the aircraft according to President Putin.

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Russia Dubai russian military Russia Ukraine war Vladimir Alexeyev