Scores of Ukrainian soldiers may have died in a Russian ballistic missile strike on a military training facility on Saturday.
The Ukrainian authorities did not immediately confirm the strike but sources on Monday acknowledged that a training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region had been hit.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that up to 150 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in the attack along with as many as 30 foreign instructors.
So far, Ukraine has made no comment on casualties but Mykhailo Drapatyi, commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, said on Monday that the strike had had a “terrible consequence.”
The Kyiv Post cited Russia’s defense ministry as saying the attack was conducted with an Iskander-M ‘operational-tactical’ missile. The paper reported that the State Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into the incident.
Drapatyi wrote on the Telegram app that the investigation would reveal any culpability for the death toll.
“I waited for the initial data to avoid speculation, but now I must warn everyone responsible—whether through action or inaction—will be held accountable,” Drapatyi posted. “No one will hide behind explanations or formal reports.”
Media reports emerged on Saturday that the Novomoskovsk training ground had been hit. Soldiers of the 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade are believed to have been stationed there, the Kyiv Post wrote.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday called on Russia to cease its “air terror” if it wanted peace talks.
“Ukraine is fighting for a normal and safe life, which it deserves, for peace—fair and lasting,” the BBC quoted him as posting on social media.
“We want this war to end. But Russia doesn't and it continues its air terror. Over the past week, more than 1,050 attack drones, almost 1,300 bombs and more than 20 missiles were launched against Ukraine to destroy cities and kill people.
“If you want talks, don't target people with ballistic missiles.”
