Ukrainian officials have reported casualties following a missile strike by Russian forces that struck a military training ground located approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the front lines of the ongoing conflict. The attack occurred on Saturday at an army training facility near the village of Cherkaske, which is situated outside the city of Dnipro.
Military sources have stated that the strike involved the use of an Iskander-M ballistic missile equipped with cluster munitions, which resulted in significant destruction and widespread scattering of explosive elements across a large area. While no official casualty figures have been confirmed, prominent Ukrainian military blogger Yury Butusov has estimated that between 30 and 40 soldiers lost their lives, with around 90 others sustaining injuries.
In response to the tragedy, Major General Mykhailo Drapaty, commander of Ukraine’s land forces, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, describing the incident as a “terrible consequence of an enemy strike.” Drapaty emphasized the need for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack, suggesting that there were “unlearned lessons” from previous incidents.
Ukrainian lawmaker Mariana Bezugla criticized military leadership on social media, alleging that the strike occurred while soldiers were lined up in formation, which she characterized as evidence of “stupidity” and a failure to adapt to changing conditions on the battlefield. However, a military source contested this assertion, stating that there was no such formation or gathering of personnel at the time of the strike.
The attack is one of several significant incidents throughout the nearly three-year conflict, reminiscent of a strike on a military institute in Poltava in September of the previous year, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 60 individuals. In the face of this latest tragedy, Drapaty conveyed a profound sense of frustration, declaring that he would not tolerate attempts by military officials to obscure the truth in the midst of bureaucratic processes. His comments reflect a growing concern over the effectiveness of military leadership and the need for accountability in the face of ongoing hostilities.
