Ukrainian Intelligence Claims Assassination of Russian Pilot Linked to Mall Attack
Colonel Dmitry Golenkov, accused of orchestrating deadly strikes on Ukrainian civilians, was found dead in Russia with head injuries reportedly inflicted by a hammer.
- Colonel Dmitry Golenkov, a senior Russian pilot, was found dead in the village of Suponevo, Russia, with head injuries attributed to a hammer attack.
- Golenkov was involved in a missile strike on the Amstor shopping mall in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, in June 2022, which killed 22 people and injured dozens more.
- Ukrainian military intelligence has hinted at involvement in Golenkov's death, labeling it as 'just retribution' for war crimes committed against civilians.
- Golenkov also played a role in a January 2023 missile attack on a residential building in Dnipro, Ukraine, resulting in 46 civilian deaths.
- The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has not officially claimed responsibility, but past operations suggest a pattern of targeting Russian military figures behind enemy lines.