A series of attacks targeting Russian military officers has prompted a reaction from the FSB, with accusations leveled against Ukrainian special services.
Series of Killings in Russia
Russian news outlet *Wiedomosti* reported that Deputy Head of Military Intelligence GRU, General Vladimir Alexeyev, was shot on February 6th in a residential building on the Volokolamsk highway.
FSB head Alexander Bortnikov attributed the attack to Ukrainian special services, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha denied any involvement, suggesting possible internal conflicts within Russia.
FSB Increases Officer Protection
On March 19th, FSB head Alexander Bortnikov announced that the Russian general’s health was improving, stating, “He is doing well, he is recovering, God bless him. Everything will be alright.”
Bortnikov also announced increased protection for Russian officers, emphasizing the need for those targeted to consider their own safety, according to RT.
High-Profile Deaths
In December 2024, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, commander of the nuclear, biological, and chemical defense forces, died from injuries sustained in a bomb explosion near his apartment building. An anonymous source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed responsibility for the attack.
Ukrainian prosecutors had previously indicted Kirillov *in absentia* for alleged use of banned chemical weapons, leading a BBC source within Ukrainian intelligence to deem him a “legitimate target.”
Further Losses and Accusations
Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik was killed on April 25, 2025, by a bomb planted in a car near his home, according to Interfax. Russia accused a man identified as a Ukrainian special services agent of planting the device.
On April 18th, Russian engineer Evgeniy Rytykov, involved in modernizing electronic warfare systems used against Ukraine, was also killed.
Ukraine’s Response
Ukraine has not officially claimed responsibility for any of these killings. However, on April 28th, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, “The head of Foreign Intelligence reported on the elimination of people from the highest command of the Russian armed forces. Justice is coming inevitably.”
