Russian officials announced that the individual suspected of shooting a deputy chief of Russia’s military intelligence agency in Moscow was apprehended in Dubai and extradited to Russia, with claims that he was acting on behalf of Ukraine. Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev was hospitalized after being shot multiple times at an apartment complex in northwestern Moscow. The Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed the detention of a Russian national, Lyubomir Korba, in Dubai for his alleged involvement in the shooting. Furthermore, the FSB disclosed the identification of two “accomplices,” one detained in Moscow and the other who fled to Ukraine.
According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, Korba arrived in Moscow in December with instructions from Ukrainian intelligence services to carry out a terrorist attack. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov characterized the incident as a potential “terrorist act” orchestrated by Ukraine to disrupt peace negotiations. The shooting occurred following discussions in Abu Dhabi involving Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. representatives aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Alekseyev, the victim, has been a prominent figure in Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, since 2011.
In a separate development, a deadly Russian airstrike hit a residential area in eastern Ukraine, resulting in casualties and damages. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy revealed that the U.S. has set a deadline for Ukraine and Russia to reach a peace agreement by June, warning of potential consequences if the deadline is not met. Russia has been targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including the recent strike in the Poltava region, as part of its strategy to weaken Ukrainian resilience. Zelenskyy emphasized the urgency of ending the conflict and expressed readiness to comply with the outlined timeline for peace negotiations.