On February 6, Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev was shot in the lobby of his building in northwest Moscow, marking a serious incident involving a high-ranking officer connected to Russia's military intelligence, the GRU. The attacker confronted Alexeyev near the elevator and shot him multiple times before fleeing the scene. As the first deputy head of the GRU, Alexeyev is closely tied to the peace negotiations that aim to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, indicating that his assassination attempt may have broader implications regarding the stability of such discussions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov wasted no time in linking the attack on Alexeyev to the ongoing talks between Washington, Moscow, and Kiev, characterizing it as an act of sabotage by Ukraine. Lavrov's accusations suggest a belief that external forces are interfering in Russia's internal military dynamics and undermining its position in negotiations. The labeling of the incident as terrorism puts pressure on Ukraine, casting doubts on its commitment to peace while reinforcing Russia's stance of victimhood in the ongoing conflict.

This incident sheds light on the murky and often violent backdrop of Russian political and military life, particularly in the context of the Ukraine war. It raises questions about the level of internal strife within Russia’s military and government, especially given Alexeyev's prominent role in the military's intelligence apparatus. The continuity of violence and the dramatic nature of this attack may indicate a deepening crisis within Russia as it grapples with both external challenges and internal discord as it navigates its foreign policy in relation to the conflict in Ukraine.