Russian media reported that a man aged over 60, allegedly involved in the shooting of a Russian general, was detained in Dubai and has been extradited to Russia. According to the FSB, the suspect escaped to the United Arab Emirates, while one accomplice was reportedly detained in Moscow and another fled to Ukraine. This incident adds to the backdrop of escalating violence against high-ranking military officials in Russia, especially since the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Since the conflict began, multiple senior military personnel have been targeted and have lost their lives under suspicious circumstances. Among the latest casualties is V. Alekseyev, the Deputy Chief of the GRU, who was shot in Moscow and is currently hospitalized. His involvement in orchestrating cyberattacks and the 2018 poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the UK has led to Western sanctions against him. The attacks on military officials suggest a rising trend of political violence linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine, creating an environment of fear and distrust within the Russian military hierarchy.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Ukraine of being behind the assassination attempts, underscoring the escalating tensions and the complex narrative of blame between the two countries. Kyiv has claimed responsibility for several attacks on Russian military leaders, painting a picture of a covert conflict that extends beyond the battlefield. This incident in Dubai further complicates international relations, particularly as it involves extraterritorial actions and allegations of state-sponsored violence against officials linked to a widening war that affects both nations profoundly.