One of Ukraine’s richest businessmen and his wife have been killed in «massive» Russian shelling in Mykolaiv on August 31. According to local officials a missile hit their home overnight, British broadcaster BBC reports
Oleksiy Vadatursky, 74, owned Nibulon, a company involved in grain exports. He had also received the «Hero of Ukraine» award. Nibulon has built many storage facilities and other infrastructure for exporting grain.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky described Mr Vadatursky’s death as a great loss. An adviser to President Zelensky’s office said he believed the businessman was deliberately targeted. Mykhailo Podolyak said one of the missiles had hit the businessman’s bedroom, adding that this left «no doubt» it had been guided.
Mykolaiv mayor Oleksandr Senkevych said it was probably the heaviest Russian bombardment of the city so far. There was damage to a hotel, a sports complex, two schools and a service station, as well as homes.
Ukraine and Russia are major exporters of wheat and other grains, and the interruption of exports caused by the war has increased food prices worldwide.
BBC reports that the two countries signed a UN-brokered agreement in Turkey last week, with an aim to ease the food crisis. The deal was almost hindered by a Russian attack on the Odesa port the following day.
The resumption of Ukrainian exports were also delayed by security checks. But on Sunday Turkey said the first ship carrying grain was expected to leave Odesa on Monday morning.