Thread by @ChrisO_wiki

1/ The attempted assassination of Lt Gen Vladimir Alekseyev in Moscow this morning has outraged Russian warbloggers, who regard him as a hero of Russia. They have highlighted his key role and contributions to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. ⬇️

2/ Vladimir Romanov writes:

"An assassination attempt was made on Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev [who is known as 'Stepanich'], First Deputy Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the Russian Ministry of Defence."

3/ "An unknown assailant fired several shots into his back in the elevator lobby of a building on Volokolamsk Highway at 7:00 a.m. The assassin fled the scene. Alekseyev was hospitalised.

4/ "Meanwhile, Kostyukov, Chief of the GRU of the Russian Ministry of Defence, is leading our negotiating team in Abu Dhabi. This is a "greeting" from our "negotiating partners," which, by the way, includes [Kyrylo] Budanov, who (until recently head of the…

5/ …Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine) has repeatedly claimed responsibility for terrorist attacks against senior officers of the Russian Ministry of Defence."

'Military Informant' also points to a putative link to the ongoing peace talks:

6/ "Now the Russian delegation will also have to negotiate with those who organized the assassination attempt on the deputy head of that same Russian delegation. Both Kostyukov and Alekseyev are from the same organization.

7/ "And this isn't the first assassination (or attempted assassination) of a Russian general during ongoing negotiations.

8/ "On 25 April 2025, a car carrying General Yaroslav Moskalik, Deputy Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, was blown up in Balashikha.

9/ "That very day, Vladimir Putin was negotiating with US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff."

10/ Yuri Podolyak rejects this theory: "Don't insult Stepanich. I repeat, he has always been a priority for the enemies. His deeds and services to the Motherland are the reason for the terrorist attack."

11/ "Negotiations have nothing to do with it. Especially since they're being disrupted (and will be) anyway. Without any assassination attempt. But we don't have a second Stepanich in the army."

Many bloggers comment on Alekseyev's record in Ukraine.

12/ Romanov notes that he was "the senior representative of the Russian Armed Forces at the May 2022 negotiations in Mariupol during the "extraction procedure" for terrorists from Azov [Brigade] and other Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen from Azovstal."

13/ Sasha Kots highlights Alekseyev's status as a recipient of the Hero of Russia medal and notes that he was "at the forefront of the creation of the Ministry of Defence's Volunteer Corps", which absorbed the remnants of the Wagner Group.

14/ The Wagner-linked channel 'Alex Parker Returns' provides further detail on Alekseyev's involvement with Wagner: "Alekseyev was the curator of all volunteer formations. The Wagner PMC also originated from the GRU."

15/ "Weapons and equipment were supplied under Alekseyev's direct supervision, and the musicians themselves were officially registered as one of the GRU brigades."

16/ 'Belarusian Silovik' calls him "a good officer, one of the few. I can't write much about him, but let's put it this way: they say he was a lobbyist and a "Wagner curator," pushing through the Redut PMC and Hispaniola."

17/ Oleg Tsarev, who says he knows Alekseyev personally, reflects on the general's role in the 'Special Military Operation' (SVO):

18/ "We've known each other for a long time; he's helped me with a number of personal matters, and I'm indebted to him. Vladimir Alekseyev, like me, is originally from Ukraine, from the Vinnytsia region. We have many mutual friends...

19/ "Alekseyev planned and participated in many operations in Ukraine. I won't say which ones, but some of the most significant ones. There are virtually no events related to the SVO and Ukraine that Vladimir Alekseyev hasn't been involved in."

20/ 'NGP razVedka' calls him "one of the most respected senior military leaders in the army, having earned a reputation as a highly skilled specialist during his service in the GRU."

21/ 'Two Majors' pays a similar tribute to the general, saying that he "attracted the enemy's attention by overseeing innovative units and technical projects within the Russian Army's organisational structure, all of which were demonstrating significant results."

22/ "Our comrades describe the officer as a bright, demanding leader, not one who sits permanently in an office, but rather a proactive and easy-going leader.

23/ "Among his subordinates and the units he supervised, he enjoys unquestioned and well-deserved authority. Military channels tried to avoid unnecessary exposure of him in the information space, so as not to draw the enemy's attention to his achievements."

24/ Warbloggers point to apparent security lapses which facilitated the attempted assassination. 'Military Informant' comments that "it's also telling that the GRU's first deputy was shot dead [sic] in his own home, in the entryway of a building that wasn't even guarded."

25/ Alekseyev appears to have lived fairly modestly in an ordinary apartment building, but this seems to have worked against him, in contrast to his more venal colleagues. Yuri Podolyak comments:

https://x.com/wartranslated/status/2019704618373312732?s=20

26/ "The true Russian patriots among our generals didn't amass fortunes (and couldn't have) and didn't build themselves villas (with guards armed to the teeth). They simply served and continue to serve the Motherland.

27/ "And therefore, the enemy has a better chance of tracking them down. Which is apparently what happened to Vladimir Stepanich."

28/ Residents say that the building's security cameras weren't working. One resident says: "It's a sad but powerful precedent to get the management company to understand that the cameras should be working."

29/ "I've written numerous requests asking for corrections, but security refers to the management company. I've written to the management company and discussed it."

'Zhivoff' queries why Alekseyev didn't have "enhanced security":

30/ "All officers of all services associated with the SVO should always carry personal weapons. But no. It's been four years, and it's all the same. Our country has no worse enemy than its own regulations and procedures." /end

Sources:
🔹 t.me/romanov_92/510…
🔹 t.me/romanov_92/510…
🔹 t.me/sashakots/59593
🔹 t.me/milinfolive/16…
🔹 t.me/milinfolive/16…
🔹 t.me/yurasumy/26684
🔹 t.me/olegtsarov/393…
🔹 t.me/NgP_raZVedka/2…
🔹 t.me/dva_majors/876…
🔹 t.me/zhivoff/25086
🔹 t.me/apwagner/54991