Russian general accused by Ukraine of striking Kyiv children’s hospital attacked with gunfire

A senior Russian army officer has been targeted in an assassination attempt in Russia. Ukraine had accused him of ordering the missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv.

According to reports, General Nikolai Varpakhovich was shot several times in the city of Engels, in the Saratov region. He is the commander of the 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said it had opened an investigation into the attempted murder of a military officer but did not disclose the identity of the person attacked. Russian media outlets and several Telegram channels reported that Varpakhovich was the target.

The general survived the assassination attempt and was initially hospitalized before later being transferred to Moscow, according to the same reports.

Varpakhovich had come under scrutiny in Ukrainian investigations following the missile strike on the Ohmadiyt children’s hospital in Kyiv in July 2024. Three people, including a child, were killed in the strike, while dozens of others were injured. Several parts of the hospital sustained extensive damage, including intensive care units and surgical facilities.

According to claims by the Ukrainian authorities, the Russian officer had ordered units under his command to launch a Kh-101 missile.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the incident without officially claiming responsibility. He said Ukraine would continue operations in response to Russian aggression.