Ukrainian grain tycoon and wife killed in Russian strikes in southern Mykolaiv

KYIV — Ukraine says the “strongest” shelling by Moscow so far of the southern city Mykolaiv has killed a grain tycoon and his wife.

“Mykolaiv was subjected to mass shelling today. Probably the strongest so far,” the city’s mayor Oleksandr Senkevych writes on Telegram.

Authorities say leading Ukrainian agricultural magnate Oleksiy Vadatursky, 74, and his wife Raisa were killed when a missile struck their house.

Vadatursky, who was ranked Ukraine’s 24th richest man with a fortune worth $430 million by Forbes, owned major grain exporter Nibulon and was previously decorated with the prestigious “Hero of Ukraine” award.

⚡️ Shelling kills agricultural tycoon Vadatursky, his wife.

Oleksiy Vadatursky, 74, and his wife Raisa Vadaturska were killed when Russian shelling hit their house in Mykolaiv in the early hours of July 31, said Vitaly Kim, the governor of Mykolaiv Oblast. pic.twitter.com/9n8XUUGxPo

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) July 31, 2022

Mykolaiv — which has been attacked frequently — is the closest Ukrainian city to the southern front where Kyiv’s forces are looking to launch a major counter-offensive to recapture territory lost after Russia’s February invasion.