One of Ukraine’s businessmen Oleksiy Vadatursky, was killed along with his wife in a “massive” Russian shelling of the southern city of Mykolaiv.
Oleksiy Vadatursky, 74, and his wife Raisa died when a rocket hit their home overnight, local officials said.
Mr. Vadatursky owned Nibulon, a company specializing in the export of grain. He had also received the Hero of Ukraine award.
Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych said it was probably the biggest Russian bombardment of the city to date. Damages were a hotel, a sports complex, two schools and a petrol station, as well as homes.
Mykolaiv is on the main route to Odessa, Ukraine’s largest port on the Black Sea, and has been hit repeatedly since Russia launched its invasion on February 24.
Several houses in Mykolaiv were destroyed in the latest Russian bombings, local officials say
The leader of the region, Vitaliy Kim, said that Vadatursky’s “contribution to the development of the agricultural and shipbuilding industry, the development of the region is invaluable.”
Meanwhile, an adviser in the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believed Russia deliberately attacked the businessman.
Mykhailo Podolyak said one of the rockets hit the businessman’s bedroom, adding that it “leaves no doubt” that he was being driven. Nibulon built many deposits and other infrastructure for the export of grain.
Ukraine and Russia are major exporters of wheat and other grains, and the disruption of exports caused by the war has sent food prices skyrocketing around the world.
The two countries signed a United Nations-brokered agreement in Turkey last week aimed at easing the food crisis. The deal was nearly derailed by a Russian attack on the port of Odessa the following day.
The resumption of Ukrainian exports has been further delayed by security checks. But on Sunday, Turkey said the first ship carrying grain was expected to leave Odessa on Monday morning.
Ukraine accuses Russian forces of stealing grain from farms on occupied land and exporting it via Crimea – the southern peninsula of Ukraine annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia denies Ukrainian claims .
Meanwhile, Russia has canceled Navy Day celebrations in occupied Crimea. Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev cited an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters as the reason. The fleet has long been based in Sevastopol.
A senator from Russian-controlled Crimea later said a drone had been launched from Sevastopol and the perpetrators would be found that evening.
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Senior Ukrainian official Serhiy Bratchuk dismissed Russia’s claims as a “provocation”.
“The liberation of our Crimea will be done differently and much more efficiently,” he said. A photo posted by Governor Razvozhayev showed him in a leafy courtyard, but with no apparent structural damage. He said the Navy Day celebration was canceled for security reasons.
The scene after an alleged drone attack on the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol
Naval Day is an annual Russian holiday and celebrations take place all over Russia. President Vladimir Putin oversees events in St. Petersburg, his hometown.
He signed a new naval doctrine in which he named the United States as Moscow’s main rival, as well as outlining the Kremlin’s global maritime ambitions for key areas such as the Arctic and the Black Sea. In a strike against the Black Sea Fleet in April, its flagship Moskva sank after what Ukraine described as an attack with two Neptune missiles.
Russia admitted there was a large fire on board caused by exploding ammunition without attributing it to a Ukrainian attack and said the missile cruiser sank in a storm while being towed .
It remains unclear how many Russian sailors were killed or injured in the sinking of the ship.
Meanwhile, in the north, Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, has again been hit by Russian missiles, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. Three Russian S-300 missiles hit a school there and destroyed the main building, he said.
