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Following the death of at least 20 soldiers in a Russian missile attack, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledges the “full truth.”
After a number of troops attending a “award ceremony” not far from the battle line in the southern Zaporizhia area were murdered in a Russian missile attack, Ukraine launched a criminal inquiry.
Local media stated that the incident on Friday in Zarichne had claimed the lives of at least 20 soldiers. Nine people were also hurt in the strike on the village, which is roughly 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the battle line, according to Zaporizhia Governor Yuriy Malashko.
In a speech late on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, “This is a tragedy that could have been avoided.”
“A criminal investigation has been opened into the tragedy,” he continued, adding that the goal was to learn the “full truth” about what transpired so that similar incidents wouldn’t happen again.
The 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces suffered multiple fatalities from a missile strike the previous day, they said on Saturday, though they did not disclose the exact number of casualties.
The army claimed that “[Russia] fired an Iskander-M missile at the personnel of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, killing the soldiers and injuring locals to varying degrees of severity.”
The following day, Rustem Umerov, the minister of defense for Ukraine, announced on social media that he had given the order for a “full investigation” into what had transpired.
Zelenskyy claimed that Umerov had briefed him on the steps taken to elucidate the attack’s circumstances, the individuals involved, and the orders that were delivered.
According to The New York Times, which cited an unnamed military officer who was not authorized to speak to the media, any inquiry would probably concentrate on how Russia learned about the incident and was able to launch an attack on it. According to the official, top brigade members appeared to have violated military norms by hosting the event outside.
One soldier from Ukraine criticized leaders for holding the celebration on social media, claiming that 22 members of the brigade had died.
The purpose of the celebration was to honor Friday’s Artillery Day.
“Heroes died,” everyone seems to be writing. Soldier Ivan Savytskyy stated, “Although it is more appropriate to write ‘Heroes became victims’.”
He claimed, “They fell prey to the worst kind of military rudimentary traditionalism.”
The Russian defense ministry just stated that Russian forces had “inflicted fire” on a unit of Ukraine’s assault brigade in Zaporizhia, killing up to 30 soldiers, in its daily briefings on battlefield developments.
Throughout the course of the 20-month conflict, Russia and Ukraine have frequently overstated the losses they say they have inflicted on one another while underestimating the losses they have suffered themselves.
According to local governor Viktor Mykyta, the 128th assault brigade is stationed in the western Zakarpattia area of Ukraine. On Monday, the region will observe a three-day mourning period.
“Our heroes will always be alive as long as people remember them and their deeds,” he declared.
Zelenskyy has opposed claims that the combat is at a standstill and urged allies to continue their support even as the Israel-Gaza war garners more attention, despite the fact that there doesn’t seem to be much movement along the roughly 1,000 km (620 mile) front line.
Zelenskyy attempted to reassure Ukrainians about the crisis in his statement on Sunday.
The president stated, “It is important for people to understand that what weighs on their hearts is seen, and the necessary changes will be made,” during times like these, which are filled with suffering and painful conversations.
This holds true for a variety of issues, including carelessness, the Soviet heritage, and the appalling bureaucracy that keeps many members of our armed services and Ukraine from reaching their full potential.
Zelenskyy pledged to give the families of the soldiers and the larger Ukrainian society “honest answers” from the attack inquiry.
SOURCE : ALJAZEERA
