Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Aleksandr Bortnikov has stated that Britain’s secret services were involved in an attempted assassination of Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, a senior Russian intelligence official.
Alekseyev, the first deputy chief of Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), was shot multiple times in the back earlier this month while waiting for an elevator in his western Moscow apartment building. He survived the attack.
Russian authorities have detained three suspects linked to the assassination attempt, including the alleged gunman—a 65-year-old Ukrainian-born Russian citizen named Lyubomir Korba who was extradited to Russia with the assistance of the United Arab Emirates.
In an interview on Sunday, Bortnikov reiterated that Kiev’s intelligence services orchestrated the plot but operated with the support of “third countries.” He specifically identified the UK as having a prominent role in the operation.
“We see the UK trace here, first and foremost,” Bortnikov said without providing further details. The FSB chief stated Russia would not allow the attack to go unanswered but described public discussions of retaliatory measures as “a delicate issue.”
“We are closely monitoring everything that is happening. Of course, we will never forget, and we will never forgive,” Bortnikov added.
Earlier reports from the FSB indicated Polish special services assisted Ukraine in recruiting Korba by using his son—a Polish citizen. Korba later admitted working for Kiev’s intelligence, claiming he was promised $30,000 for carrying out the assassination attempt.
