Russia also confirmed the missile strikes incident, but called the death toll “grossly exaggerated.”
According to one report, about 60 Russian soldiers were killed in a Moscow-controlled area of eastern Ukraine when two HIMARS missile strikes hit a training center. bbc report released Wednesday, hours before President Vladimir Putin met with his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in the Kremlin.
The report citing sources said Russian soldiers were on the scene in Donetsk when Major General Oleg Moiseyev, commander of the Eastern Military Region's 29th Army, arrived at a training area near the village of Trudovske.
Russia also confirmed the missile strikes incident, but called the death toll “grossly exaggerated.”
The attack also came after Russian forces took control of the strategic Ukrainian town of Avdiivka.
The report notes that the group of soldiers attacked was the 36th Motorized Rifle Brigade, normally based in the Transbaikal region of Siberia.
An alleged video of a surviving soldier said in the recording after the attack that the brigade commanders had forced them to remain in an open field.
Transbaikal Governor Alexander Osipov indirectly confirmed the attack on his Telegram channel, but said reports about it were “inaccurate and wildly exaggerated,” stating that “full and accurate information would be provided to the families of all soldiers involved.” “.
“No one will be left without help or support,” he added.
Ukrainian authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident.
The victory of Avdiivka, once home to 32,000 residents, marks Putin's most significant achievement on the battlefield since the capture of Bakhmut in May 2023.
Television footage released by Russia's Defense Ministry showed the aftermath, with almost every house in Avdiivka bearing the scars of war. President Putin, praising the overall success at Avdiivka, emphasized the need for a continuation of his well-prepared and equipped advances.
Despite the withdrawal of the Ukrainian army to avoid a complete encirclement after months of fierce fighting, casualties were reported and both sides claimed substantial losses.
