Mass Casualty Strike Targets 'Foreign Instructors' at Ukrainian Military Academy: Russia

Details of the Attack

On Tuesday, a Russian attack on a Ukrainian military academy located in the central region of Ukraine resulted in the death of 51 people and left over 271 injured. This incident marks the deadliest attack on a group of Ukrainian cadets since the war began two and a half years ago.

Russian Defense Ministry's Explanation

The Russian Defense Ministry provided an unexpected explanation for the attack on Wednesday. According to them, their forces were not only targeting Ukrainian soldiers but also foreign instructors who were conducting classes at the Poltava Institute of Military Communications. The institute was completely destroyed as a result of the attack.

Targeting Foreign Instructors

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the forces of the Russian Federation launched a precision strike on the 179th joint training center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the city of Poltava on September 3. They also mentioned that the institute was under the guidance of foreign instructors who were targeted for elimination.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry Confirmation

The Ukrainian defense ministry confirmed that classes and teaching were underway at the military academy at the time of the large-scale daytime Iskander missile attack. Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko revealed that the cadets were given only a 2-minute warning by air defense sirens.

Russian MoD Statement

The Russian MoD statement further explained that specialists in communications and electronic warfare from all parts of the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as operators of unmanned aerial vehicles involved in strikes on civilian objects on Russian territory, were being trained at the institute.

Russian State Media's Claims

Russian state media has gone to the extent of labeling the academy in Poltava a "NATO instructor base". They claim that the deadly strike on the military academy was primarily aimed at eliminating foreign instructors from the West who were allegedly involved in guiding drone operations on Russian soil.

Previous Drone Strike

Last month, a drone strike hit the sprawling Kavkaz oil and petroleum storage facility in the town of Proletarsk. The resulting fire was so extensive that it took emergency crews two full weeks to extinguish it.

Possible Foreign Casualties

While Ukraine and NATO have remained silent about identifying deceased foreign fighters and instructors who died while embedded with the army, it is highly likely that among the casualties of the Poltava attack were British, US, or European trainers. However, the public is unlikely to find confirmation of this anytime soon. The Pentagon has also refrained from commenting on Russia's claims.

Bottom Line

This incident highlights the escalating tensions and complexities of the ongoing war. The targeting of foreign instructors marks a significant shift in the nature of the conflict. What are your thoughts on this development? Do you think this will change the dynamics of the war? Share your thoughts with your friends and don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.