By The newspaper
05 Nov 2023, 18:11 PM EST
Ukraine’s military is under increasing scrutiny and criticism following a recent Russian missile attack that is believed to have caused significant Ukrainian casualties.
According to Ukrainian media and Russian military bloggers, more than 20 Ukrainian soldiers lost their lives during a ceremony near the southern front on Friday, according to the BBC.
Official Ukrainian military casualty figures have not yet been published, but President Volodymyr Zelensky has referred to the incident as a “tragedy” that “could have been avoided.”
A criminal case has been initiated, as announced by President Zelensky. He stressed that soldiers operating in combat zones must be well versed in safety protocols, especially when facing aerial reconnaissance and enemy fire.
Many Ukrainian soldiers and military experts have questioned the decision to hold the award ceremony in an area at risk of attacks. They argue that Ukrainian officials should have taken into account constant surveillance by Russian drones, which monitor troop activities near the front lines to guide air and artillery strikes.
According to the BBC, drone footage appeared on a Russian Telegram channel, purportedly showing the moment of the deadly missile attack during what appeared to be an outdoor ceremony. The images also revealed several bodies believed to be Ukrainian soldiers.
While the Russian military has not officially commented on the attack, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers from the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade “Zakarpattia (Transcarpathia)” were killed in the attack and ordered an investigation complete about the “tragedy”.
Ukraine’s Strategic Command (StratCom) reported that the attack involved the use of an Iskander-M, Russia’s short-range ballistic missile, and injured several civilians. Ukrainian legislator Mykhailo Volynets mentioned that the attack left 28 dead and 53 injured, although these figures are awaiting official confirmation.
President Zelensky emphasized the need to “establish the whole truth about what happened and prevent similar incidents from happening again.” Three days of mourning have been declared in the Ukrainian region of Transcarpathia, where many victims are believed to have come from.
Kiev has not revealed the exact location of the attack, but Ukrainian media reports suggest it occurred in a village near the front line, possibly the village of Dymytrovo (renamed Zarichne by Ukraine in 2016).
The missile attack coincided with Artillery Day, an event dedicated to celebrating military personnel working in artillery and missile units. Ruslan Kahanets, commander of the Ukrainian volunteer battalion Sonechko (Sol), reported a grim scene, with numerous victims and damaged vehicles following the Russian attack.
A video has also emerged showing a Ukrainian soldier, believed to be from a nearby brigade, publicly criticizing officers for hosting the awards ceremony in a high-risk area, where such gatherings were known to lead to enemy attacks. .
The incident has sparked outrage among social media users in Ukraine, with demands for accountability and punishment for those responsible for organizing the ceremony. Some have questioned why all Ukrainian soldiers were gathered in one place, making them vulnerable to attack.
In response to these developments, Russian military bloggers claim that more than 20 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the missile attack. The incident has raised concerns about the frequency of such events and the need for systemic changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Keep reading:
· Zelensky invited Trump to Ukraine and stressed the need for American support for another year
· This is how Russia recruits women for the war in Ukraine