Russian Bomber Commander Critically Wounded in Assassination Attempt

An unidentified assailant on a motorcycle shot Nikolai Varpakhovich, commander of Russia's 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, outside his private residence in the village of Probuzhdeniye, Saratov region. The attacker fired several shots at close range, striking the general in the face, head, and chest or abdomen. Varpakhovich, who oversees nuclear-capable strategic bombers at the Engels airbase, was evacuated to Moscow via a special medical flight and remains in critical condition.

Reports on the attack vary regarding the general's driver; one source states the driver was wounded during the shooting, while another indicates the driver escaped. Russian security services have not yet named a suspect, and the gunman remains at large.

The attack follows accusations from the Security Service of Ukraine and the European Union that Varpakhovich committed war crimes. Specifically, the Security Service of Ukraine claims he issued the combat order for the July 8, 2024, missile strike on the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Specialized Hospital in Kyiv. He is also accused of ordering strikes on an Odesa apartment block, a target in Uman, and a 2023 strike on Kryvyi Rih. While Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the shooting, the event aligns with a pattern of attacks targeting senior Russian military leadership.