Ukraine to investigate officials after deadly Russian missile kills multiple 128th Brigade soldiers at ceremon
The circumstances that led to the tragic deaths of civilians and the 128th Brigade soldiers, who were hit by a Russian missile as they lined up for an awards ceremony in a frontline village in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, are being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI).
A criminal case has been opened to investigate the actions of military officials who organized the frontline ceremony in honor of the Day of Missile Troops and Artillery, which resulted in the deaths of both military personnel and civilians, the SBI reported on Nov. 6. The investigation is aimed at determining the details of the circumstances that led to the tragedy.
A criminal case has been opened under Part 4 of Article 425 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (negligent attitude of a military official to service). The offense is punishable by five to eight years of imprisonment.
The Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office of the Eastern Region is in charge of the case.
Attack on the 128th Brigade’s soldiers on formation: what is known
The Russian missile struck the soldiers of the 128th Brigade as they lined up for an awards ceremony in honor of the Day of Missile Troops and Artillery in a frontline village in Zaporizhzhya Oblast. The exact number of casualties has not been officially confirmed.
The deaths of the soldiers were confirmed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. He ordered an investigation into the tragedy.
“A missile strike by the treacherous enemy took the lives of 19 soldiers... The best of our soldiers have fallen... We express our sincere condolences to their families and promise to avenge our brothers a hundredfold,” the brigade’s statement reads.
The 128th Brigade is part of Operational Command West, headquartered in Mukachevo, and its units are deployed in Zakarpattia Oblast. The brigade has participated in combat operations in eastern Ukraine since 2014. Many of the brigade's soldiers are natives of Zakarpattia Oblast.
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