BLOWN TO HELL
Putin suffers one of worst blows of Ukraine war as 65 Russians killed by US-made missile while ‘lining up for parade’
It comes after Ukraine has shot down 7th Russian fighter jet in a week
PUTIN has suffered a devastating blow when as a US-made HIMARS missile blasted 65 soldiers after they were lining up for a parade.
Harrowing pictures show bodies strewn on a military training ground in the aftermath of the strike.
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In a humiliating reverse, at least 65 soldiers and officers were killed en masse by a US-made missile strike.
The Russian soldiers had been ordered to line up for an impromptu inspection by leading war commander Major-General Oleg Moiseev, 49, when the unexpected blow hit.
The fallen soldiers were part of the 4th, 5th and 6th companies of the 36th Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade.
Ukraine had intelligence about the gathering with disciplinarian Moiseev, commander of the 29th Army of the Eastern Military District and a hero of pro-Putin propagandists.
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The pinpoint HIMARS triple strike hit the target moments before the major-general reached the spot, according to Russian sources.
Putin suffered a further setback today with Ukraine claiming to have shot down another Russian Su-34 fighter jet.
It is the seventh enemy warplane destroyed in a week, according to Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk.
Moiseev was put on blast by Russian war-bloggers for endangering his subordinates by calling an inspection in Trudivske, occupied Donetsk region.
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The costly blunder came as Putin sought to bask in the glory of his troops’ minor advance in Avdiivka, following a tactical retreat by the Ukrainian army.
The dictator told his defence minister Sergei Shoigu: "As for the overall situation in Avdiivka, this is an absolute success.
Dramatic moment burning Russian warplane plunges from the sky and explodes ‘in Ukrainian missile strike’
“I congratulate you. It needs to be built on.”
Shoigu boasted: "The operation for the liberation of Avdiivka will be included in textbooks and studied in all educational institutions of the [Russian] Defence Ministry.”
Seeking to impress, he reportedly also lied to Putin over the capture of another strategically significant Ukrainian village Krynki, in Kherson region, which remains in Ukrainian hands.
“It is indeed true….Krynki has been cleared [of Ukrainians],” said Shoigu inaccurately to his boss.
Russian Telegram channel Thirteenth reported: “How many more fantastic versions will be reported to the top [Putin]?
“This is not positive propaganda, this is an outright lie [by Shoigu].”
Yet there was no sign of “absolute success” and “textbook” warfare in the slaughter suffered by the Russians in Trudivske.
One furious comment stated: “One can only be surprised at the lack of learning of [commanders] in the second year of [the war].”
FIVE of Putin's biggest war disasters
SINCE Putin has launched his invasion of Ukraine, the warmonger suffered several humiliating defeats.
- Sinking of the Moskva
Russian Black Sea flagship Moskva sunk on April 14, 2022 after it was struck with a barrage of Ukrainian missiles.
The Moskva had taken on legendary status among Ukraine’s defenders after a band of outgunned border guards said “Russian warship, go f*** yourself!” when it ordered them to surrender. - Wagner Coup
Wagner boss Prigozhin led an armed rebellion with the stated aim to oust Russia's military leaders as he vowed to march on Moscow
Within hours of a 400-vehicle convoy rolling onto Russian soil from Ukraine, Wagner troops seized control of Russia’s regional military HQ in Rostov-on-Don. - Crimean Bridge Blast
At least two were killed and one injured after Vladimir Putin's beloved £3billion Crimea Bridge was rocked by massive explosions.
Two suicide sea drones brought down parts of the bridge on July 17, 2023 as hordes of motorists travelled across it. - Liberation of Kherson
Russian forces were forced out of the southern city of Kherson, gateway to Crimea and the largest city of one of the four Ukrainian territories annexed in September, 2022.
It marked one of Russia's most significant retreats since the start of the war and a potential turning point in the conflict that has raged since late February. - Battle of Kharkiv
In May, 2022 Ukraine declared victory in the Battle of Kharkiv, driving Putin's forces back from the country's second city.
In total, Russia lost more than 70 tanks, trucks and armoured cars in four days of attempts to cross the Donets river.
Moiseev - who received three orders of courage - was the subject of a cloying propaganda film by Putin's favourite TV cheerleader Vladimir Solovyov.
But the general-major was publicly blamed for his fiasco in the Donetsk region.
One channel hit out: "He set up this formation. He killed these men.”
War reporter Andrey Rudenko lambasted commanders like Moiseev for lining up their troops close to the frontline “to simply show your importance”.
He posted sarcastically: “There is a very high probability of receiving a HIMARS MLRS rocket in what is called your head.
“Therefore, take care of yourself and your subordinates!”
Many of the dead troops were from the TransBaikal region of Siberia.
The authorities there today sought to stop dissemination of reports about the carnage suffered by the soldiers.
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Military Informant Telegram channel blasted “another tragedy” involving the deaths of dozens of troops.
Prominent pro-Kremlin politician Vladimir Rogov hit out at the “criminal practice” of parading soldiers in front of commanders in “missile-ridden terrain”.
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