Ukraine launches probe after Russia's deadly strike on military training ground in Dnipropetrovsk region

On March 1, Russian army launched a strike on a training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region where Ukrainian troops were stationed. The Armed Forces of Ukraine initiated an inspection, and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) launched an investigation. The commander of the training center and the commander of the military unit have been suspended from duty. Details were provided by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Syrskyi reported that the enemy attacked a military unit located on the grounds of a training range of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in the Dnipropetrovsk region at midday on March 1. The strike was carried out with a ballistic Iskander-M missile equipped with a cluster warhead. The attack resulted in multiple casualties.

"In order to determine all the circumstances and causes of the tragedy, a comprehensive commission led by the head of the Main Directorate of the Military Law Enforcement Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is working at the site. During the investigation, the head of the unit training center and the commander of the military unit have been suspended from their duties," Syrskyi stated.

He added that he instructed the commanders of various military branches and units of the Armed Forces to verify compliance with directives regarding timely missile threat alerts, prohibitions (or restrictions) on the outdoor presence of personnel, and the ban on holding meetings or assemblies in open areas.

"I also tasked them with reviewing the execution of previously assigned instructions to conduct training outside designated training points, preferably in fortified structures engineered for protection, ensuring the reliable safety of personnel, as well as assessing the progress of engineering works to reinforce such structures," the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces added.

"I express my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the fallen Ukrainian defenders. The Russian aggressor will pay a heavy price for this crime," Syrskyi wrote.

Ukrainian Armed Forces confirm Russian missile strike on training ground in Dnipropetrovsk region

Earlier, details of the incident were reported by the press service of the Ukrainian Ground Forces and their commander, Mykhailo Drapatyi.

The military confirmed that on March 1, one of the units of the Ukrainian Ground Forces was targeted by an enemy missile strike. There were casualties and injuries.

"The tragedy at the training ground is a horrific consequence of the enemy attack. War requires quick decisions, responsibility, and new safety standards, or we lose more than we can afford," Drapatyi noted.

The commander of the Ground Forces expressed his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and their comrades, adding that an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

"I am personally overseeing every step to reconstruct the sequence of events second by second. Because it pains me too. Because the anger eats me from the inside. I waited for the first reports to avoid making baseless statements, and now I must warn: everyone who made decisions that day, and everyone who failed to act in time—will all be held accountable. No one will hide behind explanations or formal reports," he added.

He also stated that an inspection involving military counterintelligence had been initiated to ensure that "no detail is overlooked" and that the guilty parties cannot escape responsibility. The Ground Forces commander emphasized that he would demand the strictest punishment.

Drapatyi noted that this tragedy was a consequence of "delayed decisions and unlearned lessons" and urged generals, officers, sergeants, and soldiers of the Ground Forces to eliminate bureaucracy, formalism, and negligence.

Meanwhile, on March 3, Suspilne reported that a hospital in the Dnipropetrovsk region had received a "large number of wounded" following the strike on the training ground. Additionally, reports emerged online about humanitarian aid being collected for a district hospital treating the injured, including men's clothing, mattresses, food, and water.

Later, the State Bureau of Investigation announced that it had opened a criminal case regarding the deaths and injuries of Ukrainian servicemen resulting from Russia’s missile strike on the training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

"The SBI emphasizes the importance of a thorough and impartial investigation to establish all the circumstances of the tragedy and bring those responsible to justice," the Bureau stated.

Investigative actions are currently underway to determine all the details of the incident. A specialized joint law enforcement group has arrived at the attack site.

Background

Earlier, Russian forces claimed to have struck a military training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region with an Iskander-M missile. According to them, Ukrainian servicemen from the 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade were undergoing training there. At the time, the Ukrainian command had neither confirmed the strike nor reported any casualties.

In September 2024, Russian terrorists launched an Iskander ballistic missile at a concentration of Ukrainian troops in an open area in the Sumy region.