Russia arrests third suspect in attempted GRU general assassination
Russia’s Federal Security Service said on Tuesday it had detained a third suspect linked to last week’s attempted assassination of Colonel General Vladimir Alexeïev, one of the most senior figures in Russian military intelligence. The arrest comes as Moscow continues to accuse Ukrainian intelligence services of orchestrating the attack, allegations that Kyiv has firmly denied.
The newly detained suspect was identified as Pavel Vasin, whom Russian media described as the son of Viktor Vasin, a man previously arrested in connection with the shooting. According to the FSB, Pavel Vasin supplied vehicles, a dashboard camera, and a tracking device used in surveillance operations targeting senior officials from Russia’s defense ministry. State media reported that he confessed to taking part in the plot.
The case has now led to three arrests. Authorities earlier detained Lyubomir Korba, a 65-year-old Russian citizen of Ukrainian origin described as the suspected gunman, and Viktor Vasin, 66, alleged to have assisted him. A fourth suspect, Zinaida Serebritskaya, reportedly fled to Ukraine before the attack and has been placed on Russia’s international wanted list.
The FSB claims Korba and Viktor Vasin admitted they were acting on instructions from Ukraine’s Security Service. Russian investigators allege Korba was recruited in August 2025 in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, received firearms training in Kyiv, and was promised 30,000 dollars to carry out the assassination. The agency also alleged that Polish intelligence services were involved in the recruitment through Korba’s son, a Polish citizen living in Katowice. Polish authorities have not publicly responded to the claim.
Ukraine has rejected the accusations outright. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had no involvement in the attack, while the Ukrainian Security Service has declined to comment on the specific allegations.
Alexeïev, the first deputy head of the GRU, was shot three times in the back on February 6 in the stairwell of his apartment building on Volokolamskoye Highway in northwestern Moscow. The attacker, who was said to be disguised as a food delivery worker, fled the scene and later traveled to Dubai, where he was detained with assistance from the United Arab Emirates and extradited to Russia.
The 64-year-old general underwent emergency surgery and regained consciousness the following day. Medical sources cited by the state news agency TASS said the immediate danger to his life had diminished. Alexeïev is at least the fourth Russian general to be attacked or killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. His superior, GRU chief Admiral Igor Kostyukov, was in Abu Dhabi leading talks with Ukraine and the United States on the day of the attack.
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