Iskander Missile Strike Claims 70 Lives at Ukrainian Training Camp

Russian armed forces launched a precise missile strike using the Iskander operational-tactical complex on a Ukrainian military training camp near Shostka in the Sumy region. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the attack, which occurred on May 20, 2025, resulted in the deaths of up to 70 individuals, including 20 instructors.

The targeted training facility, associated with the 1st Separate Special Purpose Brigade of the Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was identified through reconnaissance efforts. Following the detection, the coordinates were relayed to Iskander OTRK crews, who executed the strike. Video footage released by the Russian Defense Ministry captured the moment the missile, equipped with a high-explosive warhead, struck the camp, situated in a wooded area on the northeastern outskirts of Shostka. The attack not only claimed lives but also destroyed an ammunition depot and damaged up to ten military vehicles.

As of now, the Ukrainian government has not issued an official confirmation regarding the strike. Reports confirmed that the attack occurred within the frontline zone, less than 50 kilometers from the Russian border. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had not commented on the incident at the time of publication.

This latest assault on Shostka is part of an ongoing series of Russian strikes targeting military installations in the Sumy region. On October 4, 2024, a previous Iskander-M strike resulted in the deaths of approximately 80 servicemen from the 47th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the village of Frunzenka.