A Russian military headquarters in the Donetsk region was targeted by Ukrainian forces in a strike which killed a large number of commanders, it has been reported.
Undated and unverified drone footage showed the purported strike on a building in the Russian-occupied city of Selydove which hosted the 35th separate guards motorized rifle brigade, from the 41st Combined Arms Army of Russia’s Central Military District.
Video and images were widely shared on social media of the strike, which was reportedly carried out with a guided aerial bomb. However, there are unconfirmed reports that a U.S.-supplied HIMARS was behind the strike.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian and Ukrainian defense ministries for comment.
Why It Matters
Russian forces have momentum in the Donetsk region as they push on with the aim of capturing the strategic hub of Pokrovsk. A strike destroying a military headquarters and killing high-ranking personnel would deliver a blow to Moscow’s military effort.
What To Know
Ukrainian military correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko reported a successful strike by Ukraine’s Armed Forces on targets in occupied Selydove next to a still image of the smoky aftermath of a blast in the middle of a residential buildings.
The post also had a screen grab of a chat among pro-Moscow sources on Telegram about the elimination of all the command of the 35th separate motor rifle brigade.
Video footage widely shared on social media purportedly shows the moments of the daytime strike which caused a crater.
Footage of Ukrainian strike on Russian-occupied Ukrainian Selydove. A headquarters of the Russian 35 brigade was located there. Russian “Z-bloggers” complained of huge losses among officers. It is reported that the drone that captured the strike was launched by a lady, callsign… pic.twitter.com/012H905oc9
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 8, 2025
Former Ukrainian internal affairs advisor Anton Gerashchenko posted the footage and the complaints of Russian bloggers about “huge losses” among officers. He added the detail that the drone capturing the strike was launched by a female geography teacher with the call sign Ultra, from the city of Dnipro.
The pro-Ukrainian X user Alf Really, posted the same video suggesting that it had been carried out with one HIMARS strike. The New Voice of Ukraine also reported that it was a HIMARS strike, citing journalist Denys Kazansky.
Drone footage of the recent Ukrainian strike with guided aerial bomb targeting what were said to be the headquarters of the Russian 35th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade (в/ч 41659) from the 41st Combined Arms Army (Central Military District) in the town of Selydove, Donetsk Oblast… pic.twitter.com/JKNq6b3oRH
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) February 8, 2025
Russia’s Defense Ministry said in October 2024 that its forces had captured Selydove and Moscow’s forces are continuing their offensive operations in the direction of Pokrovsk, the city 11 miles further north whose seizure would help Moscow control the whole Donetsk region.
What People Are Saying
Former Ukrainian internal affairs advisor Anton Gerashchenko on X: “Footage of Ukrainian strike on Russian-occupied Ukrainian Selydove. A headquarters of the Russian 35 brigade was located there. Russian ‘Z-bloggers’ complained of huge losses among officers.”
Russian military blogger’s Telegram post: “Our brigade is in mourning. Our commanders have passed away… All at once. The entire headquarters,” the text of the correspondence says.
Pro-democracy outlet Charter 97: “The command of the 35th separate guards motorized rifle brigade has been eliminated.”
What Happens Next
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on Friday that Russian operations have not advanced in the Pokrovsk direction although fighting remains intense but Moscow’s attacks and casualty numbers in the fight were decreasing. It suggests that Ukraine will continue to fight hard to prevent Pokrovsk’s capture.
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