No escaping this: Drapaty confirmed the strike on the training ground with the Armed Forces of Ukraine—an extensive investigation will follow.

The Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapatiy, acknowledged on March 3 the Russian strike on a training ground with Ukrainian troops that took place on March 1. The Major General did not specify where the tragedy occurred, but added that those responsible for the deaths of the Ukrainian defenders will be severely punished. Drapatiy also announced an investigation into the tragedy, which will "recreate second by second" how the horrifying events unfolded.

Confirmation of the Russian strike on the training ground with Ukrainian fighters was published on the official Telegram channel of Mykhailo Drapatiy. He expressed condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. He added that investigations into the circumstances of this horrific tragedy are already underway to accurately depict what happened.

"I am personally monitoring every step to clarify everything second by second. Because it hurts me too. Because anger eats away from the inside," his message states.

Drapatiy mentioned that he was aware of the events but waited for detailed information to "not speak without evidence." The Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasized that all who allowed this terrible tragedy to happen will be punished very severely.

"I awaited the initial data so as not to speak without evidence, and now I must warn: everyone who made decisions that day, and everyone who did not make them in time, will bear responsibility," Drapatiy stresses.

According to him, the military counterintelligence will handle the investigation. Those responsible will not be able to hide behind "reports" or, as Drapatiy put it, "get away with it."

Drapatiy also urged Ukrainian generals, officers, sergeants, and soldiers to "rid themselves of formalism," not to be careless, and to take responsibility for the lives of their comrades.

What preceded this

On the evening of March 2, information began to appear in Ukrainian social media about the strike on the training ground "Novomoskovsk" with Ukrainian troops in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Russian forces attacked the defenders, as Mariyana Bezuha stated, during their formation. As a result of the strike, it was reported that at least 50 were killed. It is known that the strike targeted the deployment sites of the 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.