Skadovsk shaken by blasts, high-ranking Russian officers slain
5:04 AM EST, November 10, 2023
Explosions rocked the occupied town of Skadovsk in the Kherson region on Thursday morning. Several high-ranking Russian officers were killed as a result of a Ukrainian HIMARS strike.
At around 2:30 AM Eastern Time in Skadovsk, a city located on the Black Sea coast, two explosions were heard. According to Radio Free Europe, these were the result of two Ukrainian HIMARS rockets striking the quarters of Russian officers. Some reports suggest the victims were officers of the Federal Security Service.
The area was quickly cordoned off by the occupational services following the incident.
Death toll: Russia initiates investigation
Petro Andriushchenko, an advisor to the mayor of the occupied Mariupol, reported on Telegram that at least 15 soldiers were injured in the attack, and five high-ranking officers of Putin's army were killed.
The Russian Investigative Committee, an organization affiliated with the Kremlin, has declared it will launch an investigation into the "deaths of civilians in Skadovsk".
Contract soldiers and volunteers to stay put, says Putin
Russian contract soldiers and volunteers engaged in military action in Ukraine will not be able to return home until the end, regardless of the terms of their contracts with the Ministry of Defense or when they were mobilized. This report came from Alexander Sladkov, a war correspondent for Russian state television, who attended the meeting.
The Kremlin has not released a public record of this event. In addition to journalists, so-called war bloggers, who describe the war from the Kremlin's perspective, also participated in it, as reported by Radio Free Europe.
The report highlights that according to Russian law, this is possible because the edict on partial mobilization, announced by Putin in September 2022, is still in effect. It initially prohibited those with existing contracts with the Ministry of Defense from leaving their posts. Now, according to the president's statement, this prohibition will apply to all participants in the military action, including those mobilized under last year's edict.
Reasons for discharge from service include war injuries, illnesses, reaching the allowable age to end service, or the birth of a third child.
