Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Monday that two men accused of attempting to assassinate Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of Russia’s GRU military intelligence service, confessed to acting on orders from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU).

Alexeyev survived the attack and has regained consciousness following surgery. Moscow named one suspect as Lyubomir Korba, a Ukrainian-born Russian citizen extradited from Dubai, and a second accomplice, Viktor Vasin. Both were reportedly questioned in Russia.

According to the FSB, Korba was recruited by the SBU in August 2025 in Ternopil, western Ukraine, received training in Kyiv, and was paid monthly in cryptocurrency. The agency claimed Korba was promised $30,000 to carry out the assassination. Polish intelligence was also allegedly involved in his recruitment, though Polish authorities could not be reached for comment.

The FSB statement said both suspects had “confessed their guilt” and provided details of the shooting, which it attributed to Ukrainian orders. Reuters was unable to independently verify the claims, and the suspects have not been contacted while in detention.

Ukraine has denied any involvement in the assassination attempt. The SBU did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with both nations involved in ongoing military and intelligence conflicts. The attack on one of Russia’s senior intelligence officials is likely to intensify scrutiny and diplomatic tensions in the region.