(MOSCOW) – Security protocols within the Russian military are under intense scrutiny following an assassination attempt on Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, a high-ranking deputy chief of the GRU. The shooting, which occurred in the hallway of a Moscow apartment building, has triggered a wave of recriminations among pro-war “Z bloggers” who allege that the Russian military is being compromised from within.
Commentators have expressed public outrage, claiming the army has been “sold out” while the Russian elite enjoy luxury lifestyles, wine, and Italian chefs. The allegations suggest that traitors within military offices are deliberately leaking the addresses and schedules of senior officials to facilitate targeted hits. One prominent blogger noted that despite recent negotiations ending with smiles and a seemingly satisfied leadership, the deputy chief was shot only a week later. Critics have described the situation as disgraceful, suggesting that internal cowards may have accepted payments to betray the general.
The Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin, faces further pressure as military attrition outpaces recruitment. Robert Madiar Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces, reported that during January 2026, the occupying army lost 1.5 times more personnel than it recruited. While the Kremlin mobilised 22,000 new fighters, the Ukrainian General Staff recorded 31,700 Russian casualties. This marks the second time since the 2022 invasion that losses have exceeded mobilisation. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that the Russian army loses between 20,000 and 25,000 soldiers killed in action every month.
Diplomatically, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed the attack on Alekseyev confirms that the administration in Kyiv aims to disrupt negotiations and convince Western sponsors to remain aligned with the United States. However, analysts point out the irony of such high-profile figures being accessible in stairwells. Some observers noted that while the head of the GRU held talks in Abu Dhabi with his Ukrainian counterparts, operations against Russia continued unabated.
The internal decline in Russia is further evidenced by a wave of mysterious deaths, including that of former Deputy Justice Minister Sergey Tropin, found dead in a Moscow bathroom. Additionally, reports indicate that the Kremlin is coercing orphans into service by linking housing rights to combat participation. Meanwhile, returning veterans continue to cause domestic chaos. In Chuvashia, a veteran was recently detained after criticising the government during a town hall meeting regarding hospital funding. On the international stage, Norway’s Prime Minister recently confronted Donald Trump, asserting that NATO allies provide essential surveillance of the Russian nuclear arsenal, located just 100 kilometres from the Norwegian border.
