Ukraine confirms 12 soldiers killed in Russian strike on military training site; Army Commander resigns

Ukraine confirms 12 soldiers killed in Russian strike on military training site; Army Commander resigns

Ukraine, in a rare admission of frontline casualties, announced on Sunday that a Russian missile strike had hit one of its military training centres, killing at least 12 soldiers and injuring over 60. The military did not specify the exact location but confirmed the strike targeted a training facility.

In a statement, the Ukrainian military said, “Today, on June 1, the enemy launched a missile strike on the location of one of the training units of the Ukrainian army. As of 12:50 pm (local time), 12 people are known to have been killed and more than 60 wounded."

The Ukrainian Army has drawn criticism over security lapses in safeguarding its training troops. Despite the criticism, the military stated that there was no large assembly of soldiers during the strike and that most were in designated shelters when the missile hit.

Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapaty announced his resignation following the deadly missile strike on a military training site, which claimed the lives of at least 12 soldiers.

“This is a deliberate step dictated by my personal sense of responsibility for the tragedy,” he wrote in his resignation letter.

The Ukrainian military has pledged to hold accountable those responsible for the deadly oversight. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that it was targeted by 472 Russian drones in a massive overnight assault.

Hostilities between Russia and Ukraine have surged ahead of the upcoming peace talks set to take place in Istanbul on Monday, despite sustained efforts by the United States to mediate a ceasefire in the conflict, which has now entered its fourth year.

Ukraine on Sunday launched what officials are calling one of its most extensive drone offensives to date, reportedly striking four Russian airbases and damaging up to 40 military aircraft.

The former press secretary of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a brief video of the attack on X, stating that Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) conducted the large-scale drone operation, which reportedly damaged over 40 Russian warplanes.

Meanwhile, Russia reported that two bridges near the Ukrainian border collapsed due to explosions. Officials are treating these incidents as “acts of terrorism,” though no immediate blame has been placed on Ukraine