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One of Ukraine's richest businessmen has been killed with his wife in "massive" Russian shelling of the southern city of Mykolaiv, BBC reported.

Oleksiy Vadatursky, 74, and his wife Raisa died when a missile hit their home overnight, local officials said. 

Mr Vadatursky owned Nibulon, a company involved in grain exports. He had also received the "Hero of Ukraine" award.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky described Mr Vadatursky's death as a great loss.

Mykolaiv mayor Oleksandr Senkevych said it was probably the heaviest Russian bombardment of the city so far.

There was damage to a hotel, a sports complex, two schools and a service station, as well as homes. 

Mykolaiv is on the main route to Odesa, Ukraine's biggest port on the Black Sea, and has been hit repeatedly since Russia launched its invasion on 24 February.

The region's leader Vitaliy Kim said Mr Vadatursky's "contribution to the development of the agricultural and shipbuilding industry, the development of the region is invaluable".

Meanwhile, an adviser to President Zelensky's office, said he believed Russia had deliberately targeted the businessman, according to BBC.

Mykhailo Podolyak said one of the missiles hit the businessman's bedroom, adding that this "leaves no doubt" it was being guided.

Nibulon has built many storage facilities and other infrastructure for exporting grain. 

Ukraine and Russia are major exporters of wheat and other grains, and the disruption of exports caused by the war has sent food prices soaring worldwide.

The two countries signed a UN-brokered agreement in Turkey last week, aimed at easing the food crisis. The deal was almost derailed by a Russian attack on the Odesa port the following day. 

The resumption of Ukrainian exports has been further delayed by security checks. But on Sunday Turkey said the first ship carrying grain was expected to leave Odesa on Monday morning.

Ukraine accuses Russian forces of stealing grain from farms on occupied land and exporting it via Crimea - Ukraine's southern peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia denies Ukrainian claims, BBC reported.

The main opposition CPN-UML has decided to protest against Janardan Sharma, who has been reappointed as the Finance Minister on Sunday, from the House and streets.

Chief Whip Bishal Bhattarai said that the party has decided to protest from the House and streets after the government turned a blind to the differing views of the parliamentary probe committee.

“The report was prepared by ignoring their views. We will go among the people with a different opinion,” he said, adding, “We will protest from the House and streets.”

Sharma had resigned from his post after the government formed an 11-member probe committee to investigate allegations that he invited two unauthorized persons to the Finance Ministry to two tweak tax rates on the eve of budget announcement.

The committee had two members each from the Nepali Congress, and the Maoist Centre, and one each from the CPN (Unified Socialist), the Janata Samajbadi Party and the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party.

The Nepali Congress, the CPN (Maoist Centre), the CPN (Unified Socialist) and the Janata Samajbadi are allies in the ruling coalition.

But, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba gave Sharma the responsibility of the Finance Ministry again after the probe committee could not find substantial evidence to prove that he involved two outsiders to make last-moment changes in the budget.

CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Janardan Sharma been reappointed as the Finance Minister on Sunday.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari on the recommendation of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba appointed him as the Finance Minister today, Sagar Acharya, spokesperson at the President’s Office, said.

He is scheduled to take the oath of office and secrecy today itself.

Sharma had resigned from his post after the government formed an 11-member probe committee to investigate allegations that he invited two unauthorized persons to the Finance Ministry to two tweak tax rates on the eve of budget announcement.

But, the Prime Minister gave him the responsibility of the Finance Ministry again after the probe committee could not find substantial evidence to prove that he involved two outsiders to make last-moment changes in the budget.

Russian energy giant Gazprom says it has suspended gas supplies to Latvia - the latest EU country to experience such action amid tensions over Ukraine, BBC reported.

Gazprom accused Latvia of violating conditions of purchase, but gave no details of that alleged violation.

Latvia relies on neighbouring Russia for natural gas imports, but its government says it does not expect Gazprom's move to have a major impact.

Meanwhile, Ukraine says it killed 170 Russian troops in the past 24 hours.

Ukraine's military also said its forces had destroyed two Russian arms dumps in the Kherson area.

Ukraine has stepped up efforts to push the Russians out of Kherson, a major strategic city in the south. The BBC was unable to verify the latest Ukrainian claims.

The UK Ministry of Defence says Russian forces have probably established two pontoon bridges and a ferry system to enable them to resupply Kherson, after Ukrainian rockets damaged key bridges in recent days.

EU states accuse Russia of weaponising gas exports in retaliation for far-reaching Western sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine. 

In Latvia, gas forms only 27% of energy consumption. Edijs Saicans, a senior Latvian economics ministry official quoted by Reuters news agency, said Gazprom's move on Saturday was not expected to have a major impact, according to BBC.

Nato has bolstered forces in Latvia and its Baltic neighbours Estonia and Lithuania, as the region has long been seen as a potential flashpoint with Russia. 

Ethnic Russians form large minorities in the Baltic states. Those states - formerly part of the Soviet Union - plan to stop importing Russian gas next year.

Gazprom sharply cut gas deliveries to Europe via the Nord Stream pipeline on Wednesday to about 20% of its capacity. 

The EU rejects Russia's demand that member states pay for Gazprom gas in roubles, not euros. The EU says there is no contractual condition for rouble payments.

On Thursday the Latvian gas utility Latvijas Gaze said it was buying Russian gas but paying in euros.

Since Russia's February invasion of Ukraine and the tightening of Western sanctions, Gazprom has suspended gas deliveries to Bulgaria, Finland, Poland, Denmark and the Netherlands over non-payment in roubles. Russia has also halted gas sales to Shell Energy Europe in Germany, BBC reported.

The EU is now striving to boost gas imports from elsewhere, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Norway, Qatar and the US.