"Revenge" - HIMARS strike during Russian ceremony results in numerous casualties

A video circulating online seems to capture the moment a Ukrainian HIMARS missile struck during a Russian award ceremony. The attack purportedly resulted in the deaths of dozens of Russian soldiers and a singer.

The video was published by a known and reputable Russian military blogger, according to Newsweek.com. The footage depicts men, appearing to be Russian soldiers, watching a woman perform onstage. Suddenly, a loud bang is heard, followed by shattered glass. The camera then quivers, and the screen darkens. This footage was widely circulated on social media, including pro-Ukrainian channels.

Based on local media reports, a significant number of Russian soldiers were killed during an attack near Starobeshevo city in the Donetsk region. The soldiers attended the 810th Marine Infantry Brigade award ceremony in celebration of the Russian Day of Missile Forces and Artillery, which takes place annually on November 19th.

The Russian military blogger reported that the concert occurred roughly 37 miles from the front line. He also stated that the Ukrainian missile strike resulted in the death of Russian actress Polina Menshikh, who was performing in the video clip. The artist's loss was independently confirmed by the Russian newspaper "Izvestia" and the news service Tass, as reported by Newsweek.com.

It's possible that the missile attack on the award ceremony was a reprisal for the recent killing of Ukrainian soldiers in the southern Zaporozhye region. The 128th Zakarpattia Independent Mountain Infantry Brigade was targeted on November 3rd during their celebration of the Day of Missile Forces and Artillery. This tragic event led to the death of 19 soldiers, after which the authorities in the Zakarpattia region declared three days of mourning.

Robert Browdi, a Ukrainian soldier who leads the aerial reconnaissance unit Magyar Birds, responded to the attack on Russian soldiers in the Donetsk region. He described the incident as "revenge for the 128th", according to Newsweek.com.