In a chilling escalation of threats facing Russia’s top brass, Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev fell victim to a hail of bullets in Moscow’s northwest district on February 6, 2026. The seasoned military intelligence deputy chief, serving since 2011, was attacked outside a residential complex on Volokolamskoye Highway and rushed to hospital in critical condition.
Svetlana Petrenko of the Russian Investigative Committee revealed that an unknown attacker unleashed multiple rounds before vanishing. Criminal charges now invoke attempted murder under Article 105 and illegal weapons possession under Article 222, signaling a thorough manhunt.
Forensic teams and detectives are meticulously analyzing the crime scene, poring over surveillance videos and grilling potential witnesses. Petrenko emphasized ongoing raids and inquiries aimed at unmasking those behind the plot, though no group has claimed responsibility.
Alekseyev’s brush with death echoes a deadly campaign against Russian generals post-Ukraine war onset. Recall the December 2025 car bombing that killed Army training chief Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov right in his vehicle. Or the April 2025 blast near Moscow that eliminated Lt Gen Yaroslav Moskalik of the General Staff.
These precision strikes expose cracks in Russia’s security apparatus, fueling speculation from espionage to rogue elements within. With Alekseyev fighting for recovery, the Kremlin faces mounting pressure to safeguard its command chain amid geopolitical tensions. Updates from the probe could reshape narratives around these brazen operations.