Late last month, one of the deadliest attacks on foreign fighters since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war claimed the lives of at least a dozen soldiers. A Russian missile slammed into the mess hall of a Ukrainian military training camp during lunchtime, devastating volunteers from around the world.
The strike, which took place on July 21 near the city of Kropyvnytskyi, caught troops mid-meal at outdoor picnic tables. Witnesses say it was perfectly timed for maximum impact. Among those killed or injured were fresh recruits from the United States, Colombia, Taiwan, Denmark, and other countries.
Ukraine’s military confirmed there had been casualties but withheld details. Three soldiers, including one who saw the explosion up close, described scenes of chaos and horror. An American fighter from Florida, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the blast was the loudest he had ever heard. The explosion hurled debris through the air, rattled nearby trees, and left the ground littered with bodies and the wounded.
He recalled seeing at least 15 dead and over 100 injured. The strike also ignited an ammunition depot, causing secondary blasts that sent shrapnel flying as survivors rushed to treat the injured. Lacking first aid kits and with no air raid siren sounding beforehand, soldiers improvised tourniquets and loaded casualties into any available vehicles bound for local hospitals.
The camp belonged to Ukraine’s International Legion under the military intelligence agency, HUR. Foreign fighters have long bolstered Ukraine’s defenses—early in the war, many came from the U.S. and Europe, inspired by Ukraine’s resilience. More recently, South American recruits, particularly Colombians, have joined for the promise of higher pay despite the extreme dangers.
As investigations continue, the strike is a grim reminder of the risks faced by soldiers—foreign and Ukrainian alike—when massed at vulnerable sites under constant threat from Russia’s larger, heavily armed military.
-Deeprows News
