The report from Strana.ua identified Oleksiy Vadatursky, the owner and head of the large grain trading group Nibulon, as a casualty in the Nikolaev bombing. He was described as 74 years old, and reports indicated that the strike hit the businessman’s home. In 2020, Forbes noted his fortune at about $450 million, and he had been listed among Ukraine’s top business figures. He had previously received the title Hero of Ukraine in 2007.
According to one account, during the night of the attack, Vadatursky and his wife Raisa were killed as a result of the shelling in Nikolaev, with a description emphasizing his status as a Hero of Ukraine.
There were rumors in some reports that a part of a Ukrainian S-300 Favorit anti-aircraft missile might have struck the entrepreneur’s home while he was attempting to intercept incoming missiles.
non-accidental death
Russian media and various Telegram channels circulated theories that Vadatursky may have been harmed by Ukrainian authorities, suggesting he was swept up in political purges connected to President Zelensky’s circle. Some narratives tied his ties with former president Petro Poroshenko and his son’s involvement with the Batkivshchyna party to broader political maneuvering.
Ukrainian officials, on the other hand, asserted Russian involvement in Vadatursky’s death. Adviser to the Ukrainian president Mykhailo Podolyak stated that Vadatursky was a marked target. He characterized Vadatursky as a major farmer, regional figure, and key employer, and described the strike as purposeful, including a direct hit to a private space such as a bedroom to indicate intent.
The grain king, “Poroshenko’s wallet”
Vadatursky had led the Nibulon agricultural enterprise since its inception in 1991, overseeing crop production and livestock development. Deloitte’s rankings once placed the company among the top 301 in Central and Eastern Europe, with notable profitability in Ukraine. By 2017, it ranked highly in profitability among Ukrainian holdings and within the agricultural sector. Between 2018 and 2019, it appeared in the top tier of Ukrainian agricultural exporters according to HB magazine and Dragon Capital.
The Nibulon umbrella also includes a shipbuilding complex, co-founded by Vadatursky’s son Andrey. The fleet comprised dozens of vessels, and in 2020 the shipyard secured a contract to build five FPB 98 Mk I patrol boats for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service. These ships were not part of the Ukrainian Navy prior to 2022.
Following the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, reports stated that many employees faced job losses. There were claims that Vadatursky had left Ukraine for a period before returning in June to help steer the business toward European markets.
Local media in Nikolaev accused Nibulon of environmental impacts in the port area, including alleged oil discharges, and questioned the company’s management practices around grain pricing. Critics also accused the business of prioritizing exports of high-quality grain while residents faced shortages. Some sources alleged bribery, VAT fraud, and tax evasion, while the company’s own materials highlighted environmental standards, tax incentives, and charitable donations, including road construction and repairs.
Reports in Ukrainian media also claimed ties to Petro Poroshenko and alleged support for certain paramilitary activities linked to events in the southeast from 2014 to 2017, though these claims were part of contested media narratives and political discourse.
In this complex public narrative, Vadatursky’s life and business activities are described across a spectrum of claims, with official sources emphasizing his industrial leadership and charitable contributions, and other outlets presenting competing interpretations about his political associations and the broader regional impact of his enterprises.
Attribution for the pieces above comes from multiple media outlets and public statements. For a fuller understanding, readers may consult institutional reports and regional analyses, recognizing that perspectives vary with source and timing. [Citation: Strana.ua; Ukrainian officials; regional press]