A key Russian facility used to train more than 10,000 kamikaze drone operators for Vladimir Putin’s army has been wiped out by Ukraine.
Six people were killed and 11 wounded in Tuesday night’s devastating attack, reportedly using US supplied HIMARS – high mobility artillery rocket system.
Military personnel searched through the rubble after the missile strikes Credit: EAST2WEST
Dramatic footage showed people being rescued from the blitzed Zhoga Republican Centre for Unmanned Systems in Russian-occupied Donetsk city, climbing over rubble and scaling fire service ladders to get to safety.
Russian operators were taught for both strike and reconnaissance at the military training facility set up to massively increase UAV attacks against Ukraine. Its historic buildings also housed civil servants from Russia’s Department of Labour and Social Protection of the Population.
The city centre was allegedly hit by three strikes from HIMARS launchers, according to the Russia-installed proxy head in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin.
He claimed there was a direct hit to an occupation authorities building and four civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged, the Kyiv Independent reports.
Operators were taught for both strike and reconnaissance at the Russian training facility Credit: EAST2WEST
Correspondents of the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported hearing three to four blasts in the city. The alleged Ukrainian missile strike came just hours after the centre’s head boasted of its success in training drone operators.
Dmitry Barov said:
“The Republican Centre for Unmanned Systems has trained more than 10,000 military experts for the Russian army since the start of its work.”