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A senior officer in Russia's military intelligence service has been seriously injured after being shot multiple times in Moscow, authorities have confirmed.
Lt Gen Vladimir Alekseyev was rushed to hospital following the attack in an apartment complex in the north-west of the capital. Officials have not disclosed his medical condition.
Alekseyev serves as a deputy chief of the GRU, one of the country's most powerful security agencies, and is among the most prominent military figures to be targeted inside Russia since the war in Ukraine began.
Russia's Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal investigation into attempted murder. Its spokeswoman, Svetlana Petrenko, said the victim was receiving treatment at a city hospital.
According to investigators, the attacker escaped immediately after the shooting. Police are examining surveillance cameras and speaking to residents of the building. One neighbour told reporters she heard several gunshots early in the morning, followed by cries for help in the hallway.
The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin was being briefed on developments. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the authorities hoped the general would survive and recover.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later accused Ukraine of involvement, describing the shooting as an effort to derail diplomatic contacts. Kyiv has not issued any comment and has denied responsibility for similar incidents in the past.
The attack comes shortly after talks in Abu Dhabi involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States on wider security issues. Russia's delegation was led by GRU chief Adm Igor Kostyukov, Alekseyev's direct superior.
Alekseyev has been closely linked to several sensitive episodes during the conflict. He took part in negotiations during Russia's siege of Mariupol in 2022 and was involved in efforts to defuse the brief mutiny led by Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023.
Western governments have previously sanctioned Alekseyev. The European Union and the UK imposed measures over the 2018 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, which they say was orchestrated by the GRU. Moscow rejects the allegation.
A series of attacks on senior Russian military officials has heightened concerns about internal security in recent years.
