Russia's FSB says a suspect in the shooting of Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev has been detained in Dubai and handed to Russian authorities. Alexeyev, deputy head of the GRU, was shot several times in a Moscow apartment block and underwent surgery. The FSB named the suspect as Russian citizen Lyubomir Korba; Moscow accuses Ukraine of involvement, a charge Kyiv denies. The incident complicates ongoing security talks in Abu Dhabi led by GRU chief Admiral Igor Kostyukov.
FSB Says Suspect In Shooting Of Senior GRU Officer Detained In Dubai And Returned To Russia
An investigator works outside a residential building where the assassination attempt on Russian Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev took place in Moscow, Russia February 6, 2026. REUTERS/Anastasia Barashkova
MOSCOW, Feb 8 (Reuters) — Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Sunday that a man suspected of shooting Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, the deputy head of the GRU (Russia's military intelligence), has been detained in Dubai and handed over to Russian authorities.
Investigators said Alexeyev was shot several times inside an apartment block in Moscow on Friday and subsequently underwent surgery. Russian media reported his condition as stable following the operation.
The FSB identified the detained suspect as Russian citizen Lyubomir Korba, saying he was arrested in Dubai on suspicion of carrying out the attack and was transferred to Russia for questioning and further legal action.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov publicly accused Ukraine of orchestrating the assassination attempt, claiming it aimed to sabotage ongoing peace negotiations. The Ukrainian government denied any involvement in the incident.
Alexeyev's superior, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, the head of the GRU, has been leading Russia's delegation in Abu Dhabi for talks with Ukraine focused on security elements of a potential peace agreement. The shooting and subsequent accusations add tension to those negotiations.
Reporting: This account is based on Reuters reporting and statements from the FSB and Russian officials.
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