Russian army intelligence deputy head hospitalized after assassination attempt in Moscow | DW News

Key Concepts

• GRU (formerly GU): Russian Main Intelligence Directorate, the foreign military intelligence agency of the Russian Armed Forces.
• Yevgeny Prigozhin: Former head of the Wagner mercenary group, involved in a short-lived mutiny against the Russian military in June 2023.
• Bashar al-Assad: President of Syria, whose regime received significant Russian military support.
• Sergey Skripal: Former Russian intelligence officer who was poisoned in the UK in 2018, an event linked to Russian intelligence.
• Eager Kikov (Admiral Kostikov): Current head of the Russian delegation negotiating with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.

Shooting of Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeev: Details and Analysis

The Deputy Chief of Russian Military Intelligence, Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeev, was shot and wounded in Moscow near his home in a prestigious northwestern district. He is currently hospitalized. Alexeev, 64 years old, is a trained paratrooper, a common background for GRU officers. He has held his current position since 2011 and is considered a key figure in Russian intelligence operations, particularly regarding support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. For his role in Syria, he was awarded the “Hero of Russia” medal in 2017 via a secret decree from President Putin, alongside his superior, Admiral Kostikov.

Alexeev has been subject to sanctions by both the US and the EU. The US sanctions relate to alleged interference in the 2016 American elections, while EU sanctions stem from suspected involvement in the 2018 attempted assassination of former Russian intelligence agent Sergey Skripal in the United Kingdom. His long tenure in a critical position suggests he is highly trusted by both the GRU leadership (now referred to as GU) and the Kremlin.

Potential Motives and Suspects

When questioned about potential perpetrators, DW’s Russia analyst, Constantine Edgar, identified the Ukrainian security services as the primary suspects. However, he also raised the possibility of other motives. Specifically, he noted that Admiral Kostikov, Alexeev’s superior, is currently leading Russian negotiations with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. The shooting could be an attempt to sabotage these talks, providing President Putin with justification to halt negotiations by claiming Ukrainian aggression.

Edgar also highlighted internal Russian dynamics, mentioning Alexeev’s past involvement in exposing corruption within the Russian Defense Ministry, specifically targeting a former Deputy Defense Minister. This could have created enemies within the system seeking retribution. As Edgar stated, “Whoever wanted to essentially torpedo these talks may have done that in order to uh give President Putin uh the right to say well you see while we are negotiating they are killing our officers.”

Context within Recent Events

The shooting of Alexeev is the latest in a series of targeted attacks against high-ranking Russian military figures since the commencement of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Alexeev was also involved in negotiations with Yevgeny Prigozhin during the Wagner mercenary group’s brief mutiny in June 2023, further highlighting his prominent role within the Russian military establishment.

Analytical Perspective

Constantine Edgar emphasized the significance of Alexeev’s position, stating his belief that Alexeev is “quite indispensable” in his role, suggesting a level of trust and expertise that would prevent reassignment. This underscores the potential impact of his incapacitation on Russian intelligence operations.

Conclusion

The shooting of Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeev represents a significant event with potentially far-reaching consequences. While Ukrainian security services are considered the primary suspects, internal Russian conflicts and attempts to disrupt ongoing negotiations with Ukraine cannot be discounted. The incident underscores the volatile security situation within Russia and the ongoing risks faced by high-ranking military officials.