Since his appointment in 2011 as the first deputy head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia (formerly the GRU), Alekseev has become one of the central figures in Russian military intelligence. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation for his participation in military operations in Syria.
Alekseev's name has also been mentioned in Western investigations related to influence operations, including the alleged interference in the U.S. presidential elections. There is currently no official information regarding the motives and circumstances of the attack on the general.
