Major General Nikolai Varpakhovich shot in suspected assassination attempt in Russia

Major General Nikolai Varpakhovich, the commander of Russia’s 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, was shot in the head and torso during a suspected assassination attempt in the city of Engels. The Russian Investigative Committee opened an investigation into the shooting, which occurred outside Varpakhovich's home in the Saratov region. An unidentified assailant on a motorcycle fired several shots at close range before fleeing the scene. While Russian authorities have not officially confirmed the identity of the victim, multiple reports indicate Varpakhovich was left in critical condition and was transported to Moscow for medical treatment. His driver was also wounded during the incident. Varpakhovich has been accused by Ukraine of ordering a missile strike on a Ukrainian children’s hospital in July 2024. That strike allegedly killed two people and injured dozens of others while damaging several hospital departments. Ukraine’s Security Service also charged Varpakhovich with war crimes for his role in the attack. The shooting follows a series of recent attacks on Russian military officials, including a car bombing in St. Petersburg that killed a serviceman.

Sources

• The Daily Beast
  Putin’s Nuke Bomber General Shot in New Assassination Bid
• CNN
  Russian general accused of masterminding the attack against Kyiv’s children’s hospital injured in assassination attempt
• AP News
  Russian serviceman hospitalized after a shooting, authorities say
• Euronews.com
  General charged over Kyiv children's hospital strike shot in Russia

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Paywall and unreadable sources

• The Telegraph
  Russian general who ‘ordered attack on children’s hospital’ shot in head