A man accused of shooting one of Russia’s most senior military intelligence officers has been extradited from Dubai to Moscow, Russian officials have confirmed.
The development comes as fighting continues across Ukraine and peace talks remain uncertain, despite claims that the US wants a deal agreed by June.
Russia says the suspect, a Russian citizen, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates and flown back to Moscow over the weekend.
The case has triggered fresh political accusations between Moscow and Kyiv, and it has raised wider questions about security inside Russia during the ongoing Ukraine Russia war.
What happened in Moscow, and who was targeted?
Russian authorities say the shooting took place on Friday outside an apartment block on the Volokolamsk highway in northern Moscow.
The victim was Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, a senior figure in Russia’s GRU military intelligence service. Reports claim he was shot several times in what Russian officials describe as an attempted assassination.
Russian investigators said Alekseyev underwent surgery and remains in the hospital recovering.
The incident is significant because it involves a high-ranking official linked to some of Russia’s most sensitive intelligence operations.
Who is the suspect extradited from Dubai?
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) named the suspect as Lyubomir Korba, a Russian citizen reportedly born in 1960 in the Ternopil region, which was part of Soviet Ukraine.
First footage of extradition to Russia of would-be assassin of General Alexeyev
Captured in Dubai with UAE help, the Russian citizen now faces justice
Accomplices include a detained man and a woman who escaped to Ukraine pic.twitter.com/bLRFWFTkRS
— RT (@RT_com) February 8, 2026
The FSB said Korba was detained in Dubai and extradited to Russia. Russian state media footage showed masked officers escorting a blindfolded man from a jet after landing in Russia.
Russian investigators also claimed the suspect used a Makarov pistol fitted with a silencer.
Russia further stated it had identified two alleged accomplices:
- Viktor Vasin, reportedly detained in Moscow
- Zinaida Serebritskaya, who investigators claim fled to Ukraine
Is Ukraine being blamed for the attack?
Yes. Russia’s leadership has openly blamed Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of being behind the shooting. Russian investigators also claimed Korba acted under instructions from Ukrainian intelligence.
However, Ukraine has denied involvement, rejecting Moscow’s allegations.
This is not unusual in the Ukraine Russia war, where both sides regularly accuse one another of covert operations, sabotage, and political violence.
Why is Vladimir Alekseyev such a controversial figure?
Lieutenant General Alekseyev is not just any military official.
He holds a senior position in Russia’s GRU intelligence agency and has previously been linked to major international operations, including alleged involvement connected to the Salisbury poisonings case.
That makes the attack politically explosive, especially for the Kremlin, which has treated GRU leadership as a core part of Russia’s war strategy.
What role did the UAE play in the extradition?
Russia says the extradition was supported by UAE authorities.
The Kremlin stated that President Vladimir Putin personally thanked UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for helping secure the suspect’s detention and transfer to Russia.
This has drawn attention because the UAE often acts as a neutral diplomatic space, hosting business and political figures from both Russia and Ukraine.
The extradition may strengthen Russia’s security cooperation with the UAE, even while the West maintains sanctions and diplomatic pressure.
What is happening on the battlefield in Ukraine right now?
While Moscow focuses on the shooting investigation, Ukraine continues to report heavy attacks.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched more than 400 drones and around 40 missiles in a major wave of strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. He said the attacks hit power grids, substations, and generation facilities.
In Odesa, Ukrainian officials said at least one person was killed after a large-scale overnight drone attack damaged residential areas and caused fires.
In Kramatorsk, officials said a Russian airstrike hit a residential area, killing one person and injuring two others, with a fire breaking out in a multi-storey apartment building.
Ukraine has repeatedly warned that Russia is continuing what it describes as a strategy of “weaponising winter” by targeting power infrastructure.
Is the US pushing for a peace deal by June?
Zelensky said the US is trying to push for a resolution by June, suggesting Washington wants to accelerate peace negotiations before other political pressures build up.
Reports also indicate that the US hopes to secure a deal as early as March, but talks remain difficult, especially on territorial issues.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s foreign minister has reportedly claimed that only a direct leader-level meeting could settle the remaining major disagreements.
Ukraine sanctions foreign suppliers linked to Russian missiles
Zelensky also announced new sanctions aimed at foreign suppliers accused of helping Russia obtain critical components for drones and missiles.
Ukraine said these parts remain essential to Russia’s ability to produce weapons and continue strikes, despite existing international restrictions.
According to official decrees, the sanctions reportedly include companies from:
- China
- UAE-linked entities
- Panama
- Former Soviet states
Ukraine argues Russia is still bypassing global sanctions through indirect trade networks.
