Russian general wounded after being shot twice in attack
In the Russian city of Engels, a general was wounded after being shot twice during an attack. The general in question is Major General Nikolai Varpakhovich, commander of the 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Ukrainian authorities have previously accused Varpakhovich of involvement in missile attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. The reported shooting occurred on September 3 at around 7:00 a.m. in the village of Probuzhdenie, which is located near Engels.
According to preliminary reports, an unidentified gunman approached Varpakhovich near his private residence and opened fire. The attacker reportedly struck the general twice, hitting him in the head and abdomen. The shooter was said to be riding a motorcycle and wearing a helmet before fleeing the scene.
Russian authorities have not publicly provided a full account of the incident. It also remains unclear whether the wounded man has been officially confirmed as Varpakhovich. The identity of the attacker and the possible motive have not been established.
Varpakhovich commands the 22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, a strategic aviation formation based at the Engels-2 airbase in Saratov. The division operates long-range bombers, including Tu-95MS aircraft capable of carrying Kh-101 cruise missiles.
His name has appeared in several Ukrainian investigations into Russian missile attacks. Ukrainian investigators have linked him to the command structure behind strikes against targets in Ukraine. These accusations have not resulted in a public conviction against Varpakhovich.
One of the cases concerns the March 1, 2022 missile strike on the Kyiv television tower. Five civilians were killed in the attack, including a 12-year-old girl, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Varpakhovich has also been linked by Ukrainian investigators to the large-scale Russian missile attack of July 8, 2024. One of the strikes hit Kyiv’s Okhmatdet children’s hospital and caused extensive destruction.
Video of the rubble being cleared from the Ohmatdyt hospital in Kyiv.
The European Union separately identified Varpakhovich as the commander of the 22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division when it imposed sanctions on him in December 2024. The EU’s official decision stated that a Kh-101 missile strike carried out by the division in July 2024 hit the Okhmatdet children’s hospital in Kyiv.
Another case concerns the April 28, 2023 missile attack on a residential building in Uman. Ukrainian investigators have accused Varpakhovich of being part of the command chain connected with that strike. Twenty-four people were killed, including six children.
Video. The Ukrainian city of Uman. April 28, 2023.
In 2026, Ukrainian authorities also announced criminal proceedings against Varpakhovich in absentia. He was accused of violating the laws and customs of war in connection with attacks on Ukraine.
The reported shooting therefore comes against a background of serious accusations against the Russian general. His military position has made him a significant figure in investigations into Russia’s long-range missile campaign.
However, many details surrounding the shooting remain unknown. There is currently no confirmed information about who carried out the attack or whether it was connected to Varpakhovich’s military activities.
If his identity and the assassination attempt are officially confirmed, the incident would represent a significant development involving one of Russia’s senior strategic aviation commanders.
