The shadow war consuming the Kremlin has spilled onto the streets of Moscow in a spray of gunfire. In a brazen attack that shatters the illusion of domestic stability, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alexeyev, the deputy head of Russia’s military intelligence agency (GRU), has survived a targeted assassination attempt in the capital’s north-western suburbs.

This is not merely a crime; it is a geopolitical earthquake. As the architect of some of Moscow’s most aggressive overseas operations, Alexeyev’s near-death experience on the landing of his own apartment block signals a dangerous escalation in the internal power struggles plaguing the Russian elite. His survival, following emergency surgery for multiple gunshot wounds, leaves the Kremlin scrambling to control the narrative while the rest of the world watches for the inevitable reprisal.

Ambush on Volokolamsk Highway

The attack unfolded with professional precision on Friday morning. According to sources close to the investigation speaking to Kommersant, the highly decorated general was ambushed inside his building on Volokolamsk Highway. The gunman, displaying detailed knowledge of the target's movements, fired three shots, striking Alexeyev in the chest and abdomen before fleeing with an accomplice. "I heard several sharp cracks, like firecrackers, then a scream that chilled my blood," a neighbour told reporters, describing the chaotic aftermath.

• The Medical Miracle: Rushed to a secure Moscow hospital in critical condition, Alexeyev underwent complex surgery. "It can be cautiously stated that the threat to his life has passed," medical sources confirmed to Tass on Saturday, after he emerged from a medically induced coma.
• The Suspects: Russian security services have moved with unusual speed, reportedly arresting two suspects who are now being taken for "intensive questioning"—a phrase that carries grim implications in the Russian judicial lexicon.

The Blame Game Begins

Predictably, the Kremlin’s spin machine has immediately pointed the finger at Kyiv. Russian officials have already framed the shooting as an act of Ukrainian state terrorism, a convenient narrative to galvanize domestic support. However, Ukraine’s foreign minister has issued a categorical denial, dismissing the accusations as internal Russian gang warfare. "We do not settle scores in Moscow stairwells; we fight on the battlefield," a source in Kyiv remarked.

Analysts suggest the attempt on Alexeyev—a man deeply embedded in the GRU’s gray zone operations—may be less about foreign enemies and more about the vicious infighting between Russia’s fracturing security agencies. With the war in Ukraine grinding on, the battle for resources, influence, and blame among Moscow's siloviki is becoming lethal.

A Warning to the Elite

For the Russian elite, the message is clear: no one is safe, not even the deputy head of the GRU in his own home. As Alexeyev recovers under heavy guard, the hunt for the true masterminds will likely lead not to Kyiv, but into the dark, labyrinthine corridors of power within Moscow itself. The shooting was not just an attempted murder; it was a declaration of war within the regime.