The Security Service, the Office of the Prosecutor General and the National Police have collected evidence against two commanders of russian armed groupings who organised an airstrike on a 16-storey residential building in Odesa on 23 April 2022.

The attack killed eight civilians, including a three-month-old infant. Another 18 people were injured, some severely.

The investigation revealed that the following individuals were involved in planning and preparing the attack:

• major general Nikolai Varpakhovych, commander of the 22^nd heavy bomber aviation division of the russian air force’s long-range aviation; and
• colonel Oleg Skitsky, commander of the 121^st heavy bomber aviation regiment of the 22^nd heavy bomber aviation division of the russian air force’s long-range aviation.

Upon these officials’ instructions, their subordinates attacked a building in one of Odesa’s residential complexes with a Kh-101 cruise missile.

To carry out the strike on the civilian target, the ruscists deployed a Tu-95 strategic bomber.

It has been established that the russian missile was launched at the Odesa high-rise from the Caspian Sea region.

Based on the evidence, Varpakhovych and Skitsky have been notified of suspicion in absentia under Article 438.2 of the CCU (violating the laws and customs of war and committing intentional murder).

Efforts to punish the russian war criminals are underway.

The investigation was conducted by the SSU Odesa Office in cooperation with the National Police, under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.

In October 2025, Security Service investigators had notified these officials of suspicion in absentia regarding the cruise missile strike on a high-rise building in Uman on 28 April 2023.