SRINAGAR: Major General Nikolai Varpakhovich, the Russian commander accused by Ukraine of ordering the 2024 missile attack on Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt children’s hospital, has reportedly been seriously injured in a shooting in Russia’s Saratov region, according to Russian media reports and Ukrainian authorities.
Varpakhovich, who commands Russia’s 22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, was reportedly shot by an unidentified assailant in the village of Probuzhdeniye, near the strategic Engels air base, on Thursday. The attacker allegedly arrived on a motorcycle, opened fire and then fled the area.
The general sustained serious injuries and was reportedly being taken to Moscow for further medical treatment, according to The Times and Euronews. The Times reported that the officer had been shot in the head.
Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation into attempted murder and illegal arms trafficking, according to The Insider, which cited the state-run TASS News Agency. Investigators reportedly found bullet casings and ammunition at the scene.
The identity of the gunman and the motive for the shooting have not been publicly established.
Russian authorities have not officially confirmed that the wounded officer was Varpakhovich. However, a number of Russian and Ukrainian media organisations identified him as Varpakhovich, citing Russian media reports and Telegram channels. The Guardian reported that he was shot twice by an attacker riding a motorbike and wearing a helmet.
Ukraine’s Security Service, or SBU, accused Varpakhovich this week of giving the combat order for the July 8, 2024, missile strike on the Okhmatdyt National Specialised Children’s Hospital in Kyiv.
According to the SBU, a Russian Tu-95MS bomber launched a Kh-101 cruise missile that struck the hospital during the attack. Ukrainian investigators said more than 600 patients were at the facility at the time.
The strike killed two people and injured dozens more, according to Ukrainian authorities. It also destroyed the hospital’s toxicology building and damaged other parts of the medical complex.
The allegations against Varpakhovich have not been established in court, and he has not publicly responded to the accusations.
The European Union separately sanctioned Varpakhovich in December 2024, identifying him as the commander of the 22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division based at Engels-2. The EU said a Kh-101 missile launched by the division had struck the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital and described Varpakhovich as supporting Russia’s actions against Ukraine.
Varpakhovich’s reported command places him at the head of a division based at Engels-2, one of Russia’s main bases for strategic bombers. The formation operates long-range aircraft used in Russia’s missile campaign against Ukraine.
The reported shooting comes amid a series of attacks involving senior Russian military officials. In February, Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, deputy head of Russia’s military intelligence agency, was shot and seriously wounded in Moscow. The Washington Post reported on the incident as talks over a possible Ukraine ceasefire were taking place.
Russia has previously accused Ukraine of involvement in attacks targeting senior Russian military officials, although Kyiv has not publicly acknowledged responsibility for every such incident.
The latest shooting took place as Russia and Ukraine continued exchanging long-range attacks. Ukraine has intensified strikes against Russian military and energy targets, while Russia has continued launching missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, including against the capital.
No organisation has publicly claimed responsibility for the shooting of Varpakhovich, and there is no immediate publicly available evidence establishing who carried out or ordered the attack.
