Ukraine's largest grain trader Oleksiy Vadaturskiy and his wife Raisa killed in Mykolaiv shelling

Businessman Alexei Vadatursky and his wife Raisa were killed during the night shelling of the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, head of the Mykolayiv regional administration Vitaly Kim reports. In 2021, Vadaturskyy ranked 12th in the list of Ukraine's richest businessmen.

“Mykolaiv is a city of heroes. Every day we lose our residents, our soldiers. Today our city has lost its hero. A hero of Ukraine, the general director of the company Nibulon Alexei Opanasovich Vadatursky and his wife Raisa Vadaturskaya tragically died at night as a result of the shelling of the city. Oleksiy Opanasovich did a lot for the Mykolaiv region, for Ukraine. His contribution to the development of the agriculture and shipbuilding industry, and the development of the region is invaluable. Much has been done – and so much could have been done. With respect and deep condolences. May you rest in peace,” wrote Kim.

It is reported that a missile hit Vadaturskys' house. As ZN.UA notes, the estate of Oleksiy Vadaturskiy was located at the site of a former military unit, whose land had been offered by the city council for housing development in the early 2000s.

Nibulon LLC is an agricultural company of Ukraine, one of Ukraine's largest agricultural producers and exporters.

The head of the propaganda channel RT Margarita Simonyan welcomed the killing of the businessman and called it “denazification in action.”

“The head of the Nikolaev OVA has confirmed the death of the oligarch who sponsored the enemy armed forces. It turns out he was also a hero of Ukraine. This is denazification in action. Only it's a pity that we've got the information on the success of denazification from Ukrainian sources once again.”

On July 31, the mayor of Mykolaiv reported nighttime shelling of the city. According to him, the shelling of the city was “the strongest ever”.

“Today Mykolaiv was subjected to a massive shelling. Probably the heaviest ever. Powerful explosions were heard after 1 a.m. and around 5 a.m. A number of facilities were destroyed, and residential houses were damaged. Fires broke out at impact locations. First responders are working. We are collecting detailed information,” the Mayor of Mykolaiv said.

Since day one of the war, the Russian side has claimed that it is attacking only the military infrastructure of Ukraine. In fact, it regularly shells civilian objects. According to Mayor Senkevich, during the war Russian troops have caused damage worth 633 million hryvnia ($21.4 million) in Mykolaiv.