Investigators launch attempted murder probe as gunman remains at large
MOSCOW: A senior executive at a Russian drone development company was hospitalised after surviving an apparent assassination attempt in the city of Tula, about 190 kilometres south of Moscow, according to Russian media reports on Wednesday.
Crime news outlet Mash reported that an unidentified gunman allegedly waited for Andrey Cherezov Pavlovich, head of the company, inside the stairwell of his apartment building before opening fire.
According to the report, the attacker ambushed Cherezov as he returned home from work around midnight and shot him three times before fleeing the scene.
Cherezov survived the attack and was transported to a local hospital. However, authorities have not disclosed details about the severity of his injuries or his current condition.
Authorities search for suspect
Russian newspaper Izvestiya reported that Cherezov’s wife heard the gunshots from inside their apartment but did not see the alleged attacker.
Investigators examined the scene on Mikheeva Street, where forensic teams collected evidence as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said it has opened a criminal case on charges of attempted murder and is continuing efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible.
At the time of reporting, no arrests had been announced and officials had not disclosed a possible motive for the shooting.
Attack comes amid heightened security concerns
According to available company information, Cherezov serves as director and principal owner of the Russian Laboratory of Air Transport (LLC RLVT), an aerospace company involved in the development of advanced unmanned aerial vehicle technology.
The reported attack comes as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to feature extensive drone warfare, although authorities have not linked the shooting to the conflict or identified any suspects.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation, and the reports published by Russian media have not been independently verified. Officials have not released additional information regarding the identity of the gunman or whether the attack was connected to Cherezov’s professional activities.
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.
