He survived the attack and is continuing to recover from his injuries, according to state media. The director of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) alleged the agency had found a “British trace” in the assanation attempt. Alexander Bortnikov reportedly claimed Ukrainian intelligence had carried out the shooting “under the supervision, or with the oversight, of Western intelligence agencies, so to speak”.

“We see a British trace here, first and foremost,” he told the Vesti outlet, without providing any evidence, The Telegraph reported.

According to the newspaper, Andrei Kolesnik, part of Russia’s State Duma defence committee, warned Moscow would retaliate against the UK by blocking its maritime communications.

He told a Russian news website: “There are many ways to make life in the UK considerably more difficult.”

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The UK and NATO have grown increasingly concerned over the threat Russia poses to key underwater infrastructure, including cables critical for communications, as well as electricity and gas pipes.

It’s thought an attack on such infrastructure would likely have major complications for Britain.

The Russian Yantar spy ship has been spotted around UK waters a number of times in recent years, raising fears.

The FSB claimed Ukrainian-born Russian citizen Lyubomir Korba had been identified as the gunman in the attempted assasination of Lt Gen Alekseyev.

It alleged he had confessed and released a video in which the 65-year-old purportedly admitted to being recruited by Ukrainian intelligence and promised £22,200 to kill the senior Russian officer.

Ukraine has denied involvement, as have the Polish authorities after accusations from the FSB.

The shooting of Lt Gen Alekseyev, 64, followed a series of assassinations of senior military officers that Russia has blamed on Ukraine.

He has served as the first deputy head of Russia’s military intelligence agency, known as the GRU, since 2011.