FSB Arrests Moldovan Suspected of Shooting Air Force General

Sep. 8, 2026 The Russian Investigative Committee Russia’s FSB security service said Tuesday that it arrested a Moldovan man who is suspected of shooting a Russian Aerospace Forces general on behalf of Ukraine last week. The FSB said its agents in the southern Astrakhan region arrested the man, identified as 21-year-old Nicolae Cociu. Investigators claim that Cociu shot a Russian serviceman near the Saratov region city of Engels last Thursday. While authorities did not identify the Russian serviceman by name, pro-Kremlin media reported last week that Major General Nikolai Varpakhovich, who heads a strategic bomber division at Engels-2 airbase, was shot and wounded in the Saratov region. In an official statement, the Investigative Committee, Russia’s top investigative body, confirmed the armed attack against the officer, who was hospitalized after receiving six gunshot wounds. The shooting occurred days after Ukraine pressed criminal charges against Varpakhovich in absentia for allegedly ordering a fatal missile strike on the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in Kyiv in July 2024. On Tuesday, the FSB claimed Ukrainian security services recruited Cociu while he was living in Moldova in 2025. Investigators alleged that he traveled to Kyiv in spring 2026, where he agreed to carry out the contract killing for $70,000 and underwent weapons and explosives training before entering Russia through its border with Estonia. In an interrogation video published by state-run news agencies, Cociu confessed that he was recruited through a job advertisement on Instagram. “I was sent to Russia with the task of killing a Russian general,” Cociu, his face blurred, said on camera. A second video showed Cociu providing detailed testimony and showing investigators how he discarded evidence and fled the crime scene. Cociu was charged with attempted murder and illegal arms trafficking, charges that carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The Investigative Committee said it plans to petition a judge to place Cociu in pre-trial detention. Read more about: FSB , Investigative Committee , Russian military Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Law Enforcement Busts $13.2Bln Tax Evasion Operation Officials said the operation utilized thousands of shell companies to generate more than $13.2 billion in fraudulent deductions. 1 Min read FSB Arrests Russian Soldier Over Alleged Suicide Bomb Plot on Military Academy The Russian soldier was arrested in the Moscow region on Wednesday while purportedly going to pick up an explosive device, authorities said. 1 Min read Russian Army Employee Arrested for Allegedly Passing Secrets to Kyiv The woman, whose name and job title were not disclosed, was accused of gathering “information on arsenals, bases and depots.” 1 Min read Russia Arrests Four Accused of Helping Ukraine Army Russia arrested four people Wednesday, accusing them of sending money to Ukrainian armed forces and planning to join its ranks. 2 Min read