A Russian missile strike hit a Ukrainian army training area on Sunday, June 1, killing at least 12 soldiers and wounding more than 60 others, Ukraine’s military said.
The army did not reveal the location of the strike but said it was not a mass gathering and that most of the soldiers were in shelters at the time of the attack.
“Today, on June 1, the enemy launched a missile strike on the location of one of the training units of the Ukrainian army,” the statement read. “As of 12:50 p.m., 12 people are known to have been killed and more than 60 wounded.”
Ukrainian commanders said an investigation is underway. “If it is established that the deaths and injuries of the servicemen were caused by the actions or inaction of officials, those responsible will be brought to strict accountability,” the army said.
This is one of the few times Ukraine has publicly confirmed a large number of military casualties. The army has come under pressure recently to improve safety at training sites.
Last month, six soldiers were killed during a Russian strike near the border. A Ukrainian opposition lawmaker called the incident a “crime” by army leadership.
Also on Sunday, Russia said it had captured another village in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region. Ukrainian officials have warned that Moscow may be preparing a new ground offensive there.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia has stationed more than 50,000 troops near the Sumy border. Local authorities say more than 200 villages have been evacuated due to heavy shelling.