ATACMS Strike on Firing Range Results in Reported Deaths of Over 100 Russian Soldiers

Over 100 Russian soldiers are reportedly casualties following an incident where footage emerged suggesting a training ground in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region was targeted utilizing U.S.-supplied long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).

A volunteer affiliated with GeoConfirmed, an Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) platform specializing in geolocating visual content from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, initially shared a video depicting the attack. According to the source, the footage captured a purported "Ukrainian ATACMS strike," with four ATACMS, including one malfunctioning projectile, impacting a Russian training facility in Mozhnyakivka, Luhansk Oblast. The anticipated losses based on the footage are deemed significant.

Recent clandestine deliveries from the United States have furnished Ukraine with long-range ATACMS, capable of targeting objectives up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) away. Verification of the video's authenticity and the precise location and timing of the event remains pending. Inquiries have been directed to Russia's Defense Ministry for official commentary, though no response has been forthcoming from the Kremlin regarding the purported incident.

Open-Source Intelligence Technical (OSINTtechnical) noted that the footage indicated Ukrainian forces executing a strike on a Russian training ground utilizing a trio of U.S.-supplied M39 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles. The account detailed that at least one ATACMS directly impacted a gathering of over 100 Russian soldiers, dispersing numerous M74 APAM bomblets across the area.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), an independent think tank based in the United States, underscored the significance of the footage within its latest analysis of the Ukrainian conflict. According to the ISW's assessment, Kyiv recently targeted a Russian military training ground situated approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) behind the front lines in the rear of Luhansk.

Citing geolocated footage released on May 1st, the ISW reported that Ukrainian forces had struck a Russian training ground southwest of Mozhnyakivka, purportedly deploying four ATACMS missiles and resulting in the reported demise of 116 Russian personnel.

In an update issued on Thursday, Kyiv's military disclosed that Moscow's forces had suffered 1,030 casualties within the preceding 24 hours, bringing the total to 470,870. These figures were provided by the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, which routinely publishes estimates of Russia's troop and equipment losses. Independent verification of Ukraine's casualty figures is unavailable.

Casualty assessments often diverge, with Ukraine's figures typically surpassing those of its Western counterparts. Moscow seldom divulges casualty data concerning the conflict. In September 2022, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu acknowledged 5,937 military fatalities since the commencement of hostilities.

Similarly, Kyiv refrains from disclosing its war-related casualties. A leaked assessment from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency in April 2023 indicated that Ukraine had incurred between 124,500 to 131,000 casualties, inclusive of 15,500 to 17,500 fatalities.