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Russian Missile Strike Kills Six Ukrainian Soldiers at Sumy Shooting Range, Over 10 Injured
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Russian missile strike hit a military firing range in the Sumy region, killing six Ukrainian service members and wounding at least ten more, the Ukrainian National Guard confirmed on May 21.
The strike occurred on May 20 near the town of Shostka. Ukrainian authorities said the attack took place during a training exercise and has triggered an official investigation. The commander of the affected military unit has been suspended pending the outcome.
“The Command of the National Guard of Ukraine and law enforcement agencies will give a strict legal assessment of the actions of all officials based on the results of the inspection and investigation into the tragic incident that occurred yesterday as a result of a missile strike in the Sumy region,” the National Guard said.
According to the statement, commanders had previously been issued all necessary safety protocols and response guidelines to prevent the gathering of personnel in situations where airstrikes were a threat.
“During the strike, while training was being conducted at the unit’s firing range, six service members were killed and more than ten were injured,” the statement continued.
“A service investigation is underway. The unit commander has been suspended, and the necessary information has been handed over to law enforcement agencies. As part of the investigation, a legal assessment will be given regarding the actions of all those involved in making decisions.”
The National Guard emphasized its commitment to providing full cooperation in the investigation and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed responsibility for the strike, alleging that its forces targeted a training camp of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces.
Russian officials claimed the attack killed up to 70 soldiers, including 20 instructors, and destroyed ammunition depots and military vehicles. These numbers have not been independently verified and significantly exceed Ukrainian casualty figures.
Earlier, reports emerged that Russia has ramped up offensive operations across the entire front line, with the most critical situation unfolding in Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
