Russian forces were hit by one of the single most devastating blows of the war when a Ukrainian HIMARS missile strike wiped out 65 soldiers ordered to line up in formation by a blundering commander.
Harrowing footage taken by horrified survivors showed how dozens of bodies were left strewn across a pockmarked, charred field in the aftermath of the strike.
The soldiers and officers were killed en masse – with more wounded – because they had been ordered to line up for an impromptu inspection by leading war commander Major-General Oleg Moiseev, 49.
Ukraine plainly had intelligence about the gathering with disciplinarian Moiseev, commander of the 29th Army of the Eastern Military District and a hero of pro-Putin propagandists.
The pinpoint HIMARS attack is reported by Russian sources to have struck moments before the major-general reached the spot, devastating his company and leaving dozens more injured.
Russia’s air force also suffered a setback today with Ukraine claiming to have shot down another Russian Su-34 fighter jet, according to Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk – the seventh enemy warplane in a week.
Harrowing footage taken by horrified survivors shows how dozens of bodies were left strewn across a pockmarked, charred field in the aftermath of the strike
At least 65 Russian soldiers standing in formation were killed
The dead soldiers are lined up as comrades prepare body bags
Ukraine plainly had intelligence about the gathering with disciplinarian Moiseev, commander of the 29th Army of the Eastern Military District and a hero of pro-Putin propagandists
Russian military war-bloggers reacted with fury to the folly of Moiseev’s inspection of the 4th, 5th and 6th companies of the 36th Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade in Trudivske, occupied Donetsk region.
One furious comment stated: ‘One can only be surprised at the lack of learning of [commanders] in the second year of [the war].’
There was personal blame for Major-General Moiseev – a commander with three orders of courage who was the subject of a cloying propaganda film by Putin’s favourite TV cheerleader Vladimir Solovyov.
Another channel hit out: ‘He set up this formation. He killed these men.’
War reporter Andrey Rudenko lambasted commanders like Moiseev for lining up their troops close to the frontline ‘to simply show your importance’.
He posted sarcastically: ‘There is a very high probability of receiving a HIMARS MLRS rocket in what is called your head.
‘Therefore, take care of yourself and your subordinates!’
Prominent pro-Kremlin politician Vladimir Rogov hit out at the ‘criminal practice’ of parading soldiers in front of commanders in ‘missile-ridden terrain’.
Many of the dead troops were from the TransBaikal region of Siberia.
The authorities there today sought to stop dissemination of reports about the carnage suffered by the soldiers.
The Highly Mobile Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) are self-propelled launchers, equipped with a missile pod that can fire a range of different weapons.
They can fire six missiles in succession, enabling Ukraine to strike deep into Russian held territory and spread the damage over a large blast radius.
War reporter Andrey Rudenko lambasted commanders like Moiseev for lining up their troops close to the frontline ‘to simply show your importance’
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is seen briefing Putin about Russian victory in Avdiivka
HIMARS launchers can fire a number of different rockets
The costly blunder came as Putin sought to bask in the glory of his troops’ minor advance in Avdiivka, following a tactical retreat by the Ukrainian army.
The dictator told his defence minister Sergei Shoigu: ‘As for the overall situation in Avdiivka, this is an absolute success.
‘I congratulate you. It needs to be built on.’
Shoigu boasted: ‘The operation for the liberation of Avdiivka will be included in textbooks and studied in all educational institutions of the [Russian] Defence Ministry.’
Seeking to impress, he reportedly also lied to Putin over the capture of another strategically significant Ukrainian village Krynki, in Kherson region, which remains in Ukrainian hands according to military bloggers and war observers.
‘It is indeed true… Krynki has been cleared [of Ukrainians],’ Shoigu told his boss.
Russian Telegram channel Thirteenth reported: ‘How many more fantastic versions will be reported to the top [Putin]?
‘This is not positive propaganda, this is an outright lie [by Shoigu].’
