Growing Criticism for Kyiv Military Leaders following Russian Attack in Ukraine

Ukraine's military leaders are facing criticism for a recent missile strike believed to have caused heavy casualties among Ukrainian soldiers. According to Ukrainian media and Russian military bloggers, more than 20 Ukrainian soldiers were killed during an award ceremony near the southern frontlines. The Ukrainian military has not yet provided casualty figures for what they called a "tragedy" in the Zaporizhzhia region. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the incident "could have been avoided" and criminal proceedings have been initiated. Some Ukrainian soldiers and military experts argue that the ceremony should not have taken place in an area at risk of strikes. They explain that Russian drones constantly monitor Ukrainian troops' activities near the frontlines to guide air and artillery attacks. Drone footage has emerged on a Russian Telegram channel allegedly showing the moment of the deadly strike on what appeared to be an open-air ceremony, with bodies believed to belong to Ukrainian soldiers seen on the ground. Russia's military has not officially commented on the attack. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed earlier reports that soldiers from the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade "Zakarpattia (Transcarpathia)" were killed and ordered a full investigation into the incident. Ukraine's Strategic Command revealed that Russia's Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile was used in the attack, resulting in civilian injuries as well. President Zelensky expressed his desire to establish the truth and prevent similar incidents from occurring again. Three days of mourning have been declared in Ukraine's Transcarpathia region, where many of the victims are believed to be from. The exact location of the strike has not been disclosed, but Ukrainian media reports suggest that it occurred in a village near the frontline—allegedly the village of Dymytrovo. The attack is thought to have taken place while Ukrainian troops were commemorating Artillery Day, honoring military personnel in artillery and missile units. There have been accounts of burned vehicles and killed soldiers, and a video surfaced featuring a Ukrainian soldier criticizing officers for organizing the ceremony. This soldier argues that frontline villages are frequently targeted and blames the gathering for the deaths of Ukrainian defenders and civilians. Social media users in Ukraine have expressed anger and demanded punishment for the organizers of the award ceremony. Russian military bloggers claim that over 20 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and suggest that Ukraine's military leaders should contemplate why such incidents have become more frequent.