Three Russian army officers have been “eliminated” by a precision drone strike in southern Ukraine, Kyiv has claimed, in what would be the latest high-profile assassinations in recent weeks.
The claim was shared on Telegram this morning by the Main Department of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, commonly referred to as GUR, along with a photograph purporting to show the aftermath of the missile strike.
The GUR said the trio – from the same regiment – was “eliminated” as a result of a “successful operation” involving the Department of Active Actions of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the Tavria operational group of troops.
It explained: “GUR employees obtained information about a planned meeting with the participation of officers of the command of the 4th Guards Military Base of the Russian occupation forces, who are participating in the criminal war against Ukraine in the Zaporizhia region.
“After checking and confirming the data, military intelligence officers developed an operation plan, in which the Tavria Special Operations Command, the SBS, and the Typhoon tactical group of the SBU joined forces and resources.”
Immediately after the start of a “field meeting of the occupiers”, a high-precision strike from HIMARS was launched against what was described as “the gathering of Russian officers and their vehicles”.
Subsequently, “strike drones” were deployed, the message continued.
It added:”As a result of the operation, three officers of the Russian occupation forces were eliminated: Captain Nagorny Dmitry Olegovich, commander of the 1st battalion of the 135th motorised rifle regiment of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation; Captain Krokhmalov Grigory Aleksandrovich, deputy chief of staff for intelligence, chief of intelligence of the 135th motorised rifle regiment of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation; Captain Fomin Yuri Viktorovich, commander of the anti-aircraft battery of the 4th Guards Military Base of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.”
Five military vehicles were also destroyed, the GUR added.
Earlier this month, Ukraine claimed responsibility for the assassination of Russian missile scientist Mikhail Shatsky in Moscow.
