Russian forces launched a missile strike on Tuesday, July 29, targeting a training unit of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), resulting in casualties among Ukrainian personnel.
According to a Telegram post by the Ground Forces, despite security measures, losses could not be fully avoided. As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, 3 servicemen were confirmed dead and 18 others wounded.
“Emergency services are working at the scene. The wounded are receiving all necessary medical assistance. We extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the fallen,” the statement read.
An internal investigation has been launched, and a commission has been created to determine the causes and circumstances of the incident. The commission will be led by the head of the Military Law Enforcement Service of the AFU.
“If it is found that the actions or inaction of officials contributed to the deaths and injuries, those responsible will be held accountable,” the Ground Forces said.
The command of Ukraine’s Armed Forces and Ground Forces has also introduced additional security measures to protect personnel during Russian missile and air strikes on training grounds, the report adds.
However, military analysts said that a Russian reconnaissance drone was reportedly spotted over the training area before the strike. Experts have emphasized the need to shoot down such drones to prevent future attacks.
Russian military bloggers claimed two Iskander ballistic missiles were used, one allegedly equipped with a cluster warhead. They claimed the strike caused high casualties, although this has not been independently verified.
Russians also published a video purportedly showing the drone strike and its aftermath. Kyiv Post could not confirm the location or timing of the footage.
As of Wednesday morning, the Russian Defense Ministry had not issued any official comment on the strike.
Ukrainian drone and counter-drone expert Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov commented on the strike:
“A missile hit the Honcharivske training ground. The casualties were mostly among those who ignored safety protocols. Everyone knew a spotting UAV was overhead. Everyone heard the alarm. There were not hundreds or even dozens of deaths – but sadly, there were losses.”
At 6:41 p.m., the Ukrainian Air Force reported a ballistic missile strike near the border of the Chernihiv and Kyiv regions. Residents in Chernihiv told Kyiv Post they heard powerful, if muffled, explosions.
Russian missiles hit a Ukrainian military training ground on June 22, killing at least 3 soldiers and injuring 11, according to the Ukrainian Ground Forces.
In a Facebook update, the military said the strike targeted a training site used by one of Ukraine’s mechanized brigades.
The exact location was not disclosed, but the Telegram channel Nikolaevsky Vanyok – often linked to local officials – suggested the site was in the Mykolaiv region. This claim has not been independently verified.
The strike added to a series of Russian attacks on Ukrainian training areas in recent weeks:
June 1: A missile strike killed at least 12 troops and wounded over 60, prompting the resignation of Ground Forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty.
June 4: A training site in the Poltava region was struck, causing unspecified injuries.
May 20: Six soldiers were killed and more than 10 wounded at a shooting range in the Sumy region.
March 1: A strike on a Dnipropetrovsk training base led Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky to order a review of missile threat protocols and the enforcement of rules against open-air gatherings.
Syrsky also called for improved engineering of deep, fortified structures to protect personnel at training sites.