Oniks missile attack on Odesa: Ukrainian journalists identify Russian commanders

This was reported on August 13 on Toronto TV YouTube channel.

On the night of July 19, the Russian army attacked the city using Oniks missiles. These missiles were launched from the coastal missile complex called Bastion, which is located in Kozacha Bay in Sevastopol. On July 23, they fired similar rockets at the historic center of Odesa, causing damage to historical buildings, homes, and the Transfiguration Cathedral.

Reporters say that only 15 separate groups of soldiers with anti-tank missiles called Bastion are in Crimea. This group was formed right after Crimea was taken over and was based on a military unit that was previously in Dagestan.

In 2020, a person named Alexey Shcherbak took charge of the 15th missile brigade of Russia. It's known that he's still in this role, which makes it likely that he's involved in the attacks on Ukraine, including the recent one on Odesa's historic center. Shcherbak's wife, Galina Shcherbak, is also in the Russian Federation's Black Sea Fleet. Furthermore, Shcherbak's relatives live in the Odesa region.

Another person who might be involved is the commander of the Bastion division, Aleksandr Myamlin. He's responsible for making sure that the coastal missile complexes are ready for launching as quickly as possible. He came to Crimea from the Krasnodar Territory and has a wife and a daughter.

Captain Alexey Vavilov, who heads the launcher and commands the strike battery of the Bastion missile defense system, could also have taken part in the attack. He used to serve in Dagestan. In 2014, he moved to Crimea when the 15th missile brigade was being formed there. Vavilov is in control of launching the missiles. His wife works in radio communications and serves in the Russian army as well.

What we know about the July 19 attack on Odesa 

According to OC South, the Russian army attacked Odesa and the area using missiles like Kh-59, Kh-22 from their planes and Oniks missiles from a missile system on the coast in Crimea. They also sent Shahed drones to the south. Eight drones were shot down over the Odesa region.

The Russians attacked the port and important buildings with Oniks and Kh-22 missiles. This damaged tanks, equipment used for loading, and even caused a fire after hitting the grain and oil terminal.

This attack harmed the facilities of international and Ukrainian traders and carriers like Kernel, Viterra, and CMA CGM Group.

The Ministry of Agriculture added that the Russian attack on the night of July 19 caused big problems for the grain export facilities at the port of Chornomorsk in Odesa. Fixing this will take around a year. The report says that 60,000 tons of grain, which was supposed to be loaded and shipped through the grain corridor 60 days ago, got destroyed in the port.

In the Odesa region, an industrial port was hit, and two buildings with tobacco and fireworks were damaged in different places. A person working there got hurt.

The Prosecutor General's Office said that as a result of the Russian attack, 10 people got hurt.