Ukrainian Air Force Colonel Yevgeny Bulatsik, commander of the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade, has been identified as responsible for the October 23 missile strike on a civilian enterprise in the Russian city of Oryol, according to the military channel Voevoda Veshchayet.

Three people were killed in the attack, which took place on the evening of October 23. Fragments of British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles were reportedly recovered at the scene.

According to the channel, the strike was carried out by Ukrainian Su-24 frontline bombers operating from the Starokonstantinov airfield. These aircraft belong to the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade, commanded by Bulatsik.

The brigade operates Su-24 bombers modified to carry British Storm Shadow cruise missiles and their French counterparts, SCALP-EG.

The channel also drew attention to Bulatsik’s previous convictions in Russia and raised the possibility of targeting the Ukrainian commander himself.

In September 2025, a Russian court sentenced Bulatsik in absentia to life imprisonment for a cruise missile strike against Russian positions in the Kursk region.

Rostislav Karpusha, commander of Ukraine’s Saint Barbara missile brigade, received a life sentence in the same case.

Bulatsik had previously been sentenced to 18 years in prison in Russia for bombing an oil loading station in the Bryansk region.

The 49-year-old colonel has participated in military operations against Russia since 2014. During the Ukrainian military operation in Donbass, his Su-24 was hit by a man-portable air defense missile while conducting a reconnaissance flight over Slavyansk.

Despite the damage, Bulatsik managed to keep the aircraft airborne and return to base using only one engine.

Since the beginning of Russia’s special military operation, the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade under his command has conducted more than 1,300 combat sorties.

In 2025, Vladimir Zelensky awarded Bulatsik the title of Hero of Ukraine.