A Russian national suspected of shooting a high-ranking military intelligence general in Moscow has been detained in Dubai and returned to Russia, according to the Federal Security Service (FSB). The arrest marks a rapid development in the high-profile attack on Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, the deputy head of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, who was critically wounded in an ambush on Friday.
The suspect, identified by the FSB as Lyubomir Korba, is a Russian citizen in his sixties. Security officials state that Korba fled to the United Arab Emirates immediately following the shooting but was apprehended in Dubai through a coordinated operation with local authorities. He has since been flown back to Russia to face charges.
Details of the Ambush and Arrest
The attack occurred on Friday in the stairwell of an apartment building in Moscow where General Alekseyev resides. Investigators report that the assailant used a Makarov pistol equipped with a silencer to fire multiple rounds at the general. Alekseyev sustained serious gunshot wounds to his chest, arm, and leg. He was rushed to a hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and remains in serious condition.
Following the shooting, the suspect allegedly managed to leave the country within hours, arriving in Dubai. The FSB announced his capture on Sunday, releasing details of the extradition process. Footage broadcast on Russian state media showed masked security agents escorting a blindfolded man from a small aircraft after it landed in Russia during the night.
The operation to detain Korba involved significant diplomatic cooperation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had personally expressed his gratitude to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the assistance provided by Emirati authorities in securing the suspect’s arrest and transfer.
Investigation Widens to Accomplices
While Korba is in custody, Russian investigators are pursuing other individuals believed to be involved in the plot. The FSB stated that a suspected accomplice has already been detained in Moscow. Additionally, authorities are searching for a third individual—a woman—who they believe managed to escape across the border into Ukraine.
The search for the organizers of the attack is ongoing, with Russian officials characterizing the incident as a carefully planned operation rather than a random act of violence. The investigation has been classified as an attempted murder case, though the rhetoric from senior officials suggests it is being treated as a matter of national security.
Political Fallout and Accusations
The shooting has immediately intensified tensions between Moscow and Kyiv. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the attack on General Alekseyev as a “terrorist act” and explicitly accused Ukraine of orchestrating the assassination attempt. Lavrov claimed the violence was timed to disrupt peace negotiations and undermine diplomatic efforts.
The accusation comes just a day after Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. officials concluded a round of talks in Abu Dhabi. Those discussions reportedly led to a prisoner exchange but failed to yield significant progress on ending the four-year conflict. Ukraine has firmly denied any involvement in the shooting of General Alekseyev, rejecting Moscow’s claims that its intelligence services were behind the operation.
A Pattern of High-Profile Attacks
General Alekseyev is a prominent figure within Russia’s security apparatus. As the deputy chief of the GRU, he has played a significant role in overseeing military intelligence operations in Ukraine and previously in Syria, where he supported the government of Bashar al-Assad. He was also a key figure during the internal crisis in 2023, where he was dispatched to negotiate with Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin during the private military company’s brief uprising.
The attack on Alekseyev is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting senior Russian military officials. In December, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, who led the Operational Training Directorate of the General Staff, was killed by a car bomb. Another high-ranking officer, Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, head of the main operational department of the General Staff, was killed when an explosive device detonated in his vehicle near his home on the outskirts of Moscow.
While Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for these specific deaths, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously remarked on the “liquidation” of Russian military figures, stating generally that “justice inevitably comes.”
Ongoing Military Context
The arrest of Korba and the fallout from the shooting coincide with developments on the frontline. The Russian Ministry of Defence recently reported that its forces have seized two additional settlements in northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Sumy regions. The Kremlin appears to be leveraging these gradual battlefield advances to strengthen its position in the broader geopolitical standoff, even as the security of its top commanders in the capital comes under increasing scrutiny.
