Ukrainian Missile Strike: Casualties and Consequences
On Monday, Ukrainian officials reported an undetermined number of fatalities resulting from a Russian missile strike on a military training facility. This attack occurred on Saturday, approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the front lines, specifically targeting an army training ground near the village of Cherkaske, close to Dnipro, as per a military source who provided information to AFP.
Ukrainian military blogger Yury Butusov revealed that the strike claimed the lives of between 30 and 40 soldiers, with around 90 others sustaining injuries. Despite these alarming figures, no official death toll has been confirmed. Major General Mykhailo Drapaty, commander of Ukraine’s land forces, expressed his sorrow over the incident, referring to it as a tragic consequence of an enemy attack and extending heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families.
Controversy Over Command Decisions
In the aftermath of the strike, Ukrainian lawmaker Mariana Bezugla took to Facebook to criticize military commanders, describing their actions as ‘stupidity’ and highlighting their failure to adapt to evolving battlefield realities. She emphasized that the attack occurred while soldiers were lined up in formation, implying a significant lapse in judgment.
However, a military source refuted this claim, stating that there was no formation or gathering of troops at the time of the attack. According to this source, the Russian forces utilized an Iskander-M ballistic missile armed with cluster munitions, causing destruction over a wide area rather than targeting a concentrated group of soldiers.
A Pattern of Tragedy in the Conflict
This incident is not isolated; several similar attacks have occurred during the ongoing three-year conflict. One notable event was a strike on a military institute in Poltava last September, which resulted in approximately 60 fatalities. Major General Drapaty acknowledged these recurring tragedies, suggesting that there are ‘unlearned lessons’ from previous incidents.
In response to the latest strike, Drapaty announced that an investigation would be launched to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the attack. Expressing his frustration, he remarked that ‘anger is eating away at me from the inside’ and accused certain military officials of continuing to neglect their responsibilities. He vowed not to allow anyone to obscure the truth behind bureaucratic red tape.
