Britain was accused by the Kremlin today of being behind an assassination bid in Moscow aimed at one of Vladimir Putin's highest-level military spy chiefs.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, the 64-year-old deputy head of Russia's GRU military intelligence, is recovering in hospital after being shot in a residential building on February 6.
While the high-ranking official is expected to survive the assassination attempt, Russian counterintelligence chief Alexander Bortnikov today alleged a 'British trace' to the attack, claiming Ukrainian special services executed it.
Bortnikov, 74, said: 'We clearly understand that the organisers are the Ukrainian special services.
'And behind them stand third countries, which we have spoken about before, that the Ukrainian special services operate under the supervision, or with the supervision, of Western intelligence services.
'We see a British trace above all here. Therefore, the investigation is continuing.'
Bortnikov said the FSB will publish new information about the investigation if it becomes available.
The veteran director of the Federal Security Services gave no evidence for his claim against Britain.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, the 64-year-old deputy head of Russia's GRU military intelligence, is recovering in hospital after being shot in a residential building on February 6' (pictured is Lieutenant General Alekseyev speaking to servicemen in an undisclosed location)
Image made from video provided by Russian Federal Security Service via Russia-1 TV channel on Sunday, Feb 8, 2026, CCTV footage showing a person standing outside a building, suspected in the attempted murder of Lt. Gen. Alekseyev
Russian Police officers walk next to the entrance of a residential building on Volokolamsk Highway, where an assassination attempt on Lt. Gen. Alexeyev was made on February 6
He stressed that retaliatory measures against alleged terrorist attacks by Kiev are being taken, but this is a 'delicate issue'.
'We are carefully monitoring everything that is happening. Of course, we will never forget and never forgive,' he said.
Alekseyev has been linked to the 2018 Novichok poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury.
The EU alleged he 'orchestrated' the GRU operation against the Skripals, and cited this as a reason for imposing sanctions.
Beyond the 'British trace' allegations, Russia had previously attempted to connect the Alekseyev shooting to Poland, highlighting a shifting narrative following the breach of security.
The attack is seen as a major humiliation for the Kremlin, though reports suggest the general's own actions may have played a role, with claims he was shot after ditching his security detail to visit his younger lover.
Russia earlier arrested two suspects, Lyubomir Korba, 65, and Viktor Vasin, 66, alleging they were working for Ukraine's SBU security service.
A third suspect, Zinaida Serebryakova, 54, who reportedly lived in the building where Alekseyev was shot, is said to have fled to Ukraine.
According to the FSB, both Korba and Vasin have 'fully admitted their guilt'.
