Ukrainian Missile Strike Claims Lives at Military Training Ground
KYIV: Ukrainian officials confirmed on Monday that a Russian missile strike has led to an unspecified number of casualties at a military training site located about 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the front lines. The attack occurred on Saturday, targeting an army training ground near the village of Cherkaske, close to Dnipro, as reported by a military source.
Ukrainian military blogger Yury Butusov stated that between 30 and 40 soldiers lost their lives, with around 90 others injured. However, an official count of the casualties has not yet been released.
Major General Mykhailo Drapaty, commander of Ukraine’s land forces, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the victims’ families, describing the attack as a tragic result of enemy action.
In a post on Facebook, Ukrainian lawmaker Mariana Bezugla criticized military leadership for the incident, claiming that soldiers were lined up in formation when the missile struck. She criticized commanders for their “stupidity” and inability to adjust to the ongoing conflict’s realities. Meanwhile, a military source contradicted this claim, stating that there was “no lining up or gathering of people” at the time of the strike.
The missile used was reportedly an Iskander-M Ballistic missile equipped with cluster munitions, which spread destruction over a wide area. There have been several similar attacks throughout the ongoing war, including a tragedy at a military institute in Poltava last September, which resulted in around 60 fatalities.
General Drapaty promised that an investigation would take place to address what he described as “unlearned lessons” from previous incidents. He expressed frustration over the negligence of some military officials, stating he would not allow attempts to obscure the truth with bureaucratic excuses.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to take a heavy toll, with this latest incident highlighting the risks faced by military personnel in the line of duty.
