Explosions Rock Russian Base in Khabarovsk, Killing Troops Accused of Bucha, Irpin War Crimes

Explosions struck a Russian National Guard unit near Khabarovsk on Sept. 8, killing and injuring servicemen from a battalion accused of committing war crimes in Ukraine’s Kyiv region, according to Kyiv Post Ukrainian intelligence sources.

The blasts occurred around 9 a.m. in the parking lot of Military Unit 6912 as troops were arriving for duty, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) said. Two explosive devices detonated in succession, leaving casualties among the personnel.

However, intelligence services are not disclosing any further details or the number of casualties.

Kyiv Post has not been able to independently verify the explosions.

Khabarovsk lies in Russia’s Far East, more than 6,500 kilometers (4,000 miles) east of Ukraine’s borders and about 8,500 kilometers (5,300 miles) from Moscow, near the border with China.

Following the incident, Russian security services reportedly blocked mobile internet access and altered public transport routes in the area to limit local awareness of the attack, sources told to Kyiv Post.

Military Unit 6912 belongs to the 748th Separate Battalion of the Russian National Guard, based in Khabarovsk. According to open-source data and documented evidence, the battalion took part in Russia’s 2022 assault on Kyiv and suffered losses in the battles for Bucha and Irpin.

In early 2022, the towns of Irpin and Bucha near Kyiv became symbols of Russia’s brutality during its failed assault on the Ukrainian capital. Fierce fighting raged in Irpin as Russian forces tried to break through to Kyiv, leaving widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure.

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