Aerospace Forces General Shot and Wounded in Saratov Region, Reports Say

Sep. 3, 2026 Major General Nikolai Varpakhovich. Russian Defense Ministry A senior Russian Aerospace Forces officer was shot and wounded in the southern Saratov region, law enforcement authorities and Russian media reported Thursday. The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top investigative body, said it opened a criminal probe into attempted murder and arms trafficking following “an attempt on the life of a serviceman” in the city of Engels. “Cartridge casings and bullets from a firearm were recovered at the scene,” the Investigative Committee said in a statement. The officer was airlifted to a military hospital in Moscow, law enforcement sources told the newspaper Kommersant. While authorities did not immediately identify the officer, unverified reports claimed the victim to be Major General Nikolai Varpakhovich, who heads a strategic bomber division at Engels-2 airbase. Russia’s Defense Ministry has not commented on the shooting. The reports, which The Moscow Times was unable to independently verify, claimed Varpakhovich was shot twice in the torso and the face by a gunman riding a motorcycle and wearing a helmet outside a private cottage. The shooting occurred after Ukrainian law enforcement authorities pressed formal criminal charges against Varpakhovich in absentia on Monday. Kyiv accuses Varpakhovich of ordering a fatal missile strike on the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in the Ukrainian capital in July 2024. Ukraine has not commented on the shooting in Engels on Thursday. If confirmed, Varpakhovich would be the seventh Russian general to have been targeted in assassination attempts in nearly two years, according to analysis by the exiled news outlet Meduza. Read more about: Saratov , Air Force Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Tu-22M3 Strategic Bomber Crashes During Training Flight in Irkutsk Region Russia’s Defense Ministry said the crew ejected from the aircraft and were alive and well. 1 Min read Ukrainian Army Hits Russian Military, Industrial Sites in Overnight Barrage Explosions rocked chemical plants, oil refineries and warehouses across Russia, a source in Ukraine’s SBU security services said. 3 Min read Ukraine Says Hit Oil Depot in Russia Used by Moscow’s Air Force The apparent strike is the latest in a series of Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy and military facilities. 2 Min read Despite Modernization Drive, Russia's Air Force Struggles for Superiority in Ukraine As the sun set in the Siberian city of Irkutsk on Sunday, an Su-30 Russian military fighter jet nose-dived into a two-story house, exploding on impact...