12 Russian Generals, Colonels Killed In Command Post By 1 Ukraine NATO Rocket

Using a precise, long distance HIMARS rocket - and their uncanny ability to target Russian ammunition storage and command centers - Ukrainian forces killed 12 Russian officers while destroying a large supply of military stores near Kherson. 

The implication is that Ukraine now has the ability to hit essential Russian targets that contribute to its strategic objective of reducing the invaders capabilities in preparation for counterattacks.  JL 

Will Stewart and Chris Pleasance report in MailOnline:

Twelve Russian officers have been killed in a single rocket strike as Ukraine's armed forces inflict punishing losses with American-supplied weapons. The attack targeted a command post in at Chornobaivka Airport, near the occupied southern city of Kherson. It is thought to have been carried out using US HIMARS rockets.Video shows what appears to be an ammunition dump at the base exploding. As the frontline pushed to the west, the airfield dropped out of range. With the arrival of American rocket systems it can be hit again. It comes as Ukraine readies its million-strong military for a major offensive  around Kherson, aiming to recapture territory seized by Russia early in the conflict.

Twelve Russian officers are thought to have been killed in a single rocket strike as Ukraine's armed forces inflict punishing losses with American-supplied weapons. 

The attack targeted a command post in at Chornobaivka Airport, near the occupied southern city of Kherson, and is rumoured to have killed at least one general and one colonel. It is thought to have been carried out using US HIMARS rockets.

Video shows what appears to be an ammunition dump at the base exploding, as Russian Telegram channels report Putin is infuriated at the inability of Russia's S-400 anti-air systems to protect his armed forces. It comes as Ukraine readies its million-strong military for a major offensive  around Kherson, aiming to recapture territory seized by Russia early in the conflict.

Defence minister Oleksii Reznikov revealed President Zelensky has given his generals orders to draw up plans for the attack and come up with a list of equipment they need to get the job done.

Reznikov says his job will then be to go to Ukraine's western allies and make the case for those weapons to be handed over, as he did with HIMARS.

'We're people of the free world and with a real sense of justice and liberty,' he told The Times.

'We have approximately 700,000 in the armed forces and when you add the national guard, police, border guard, we are around a million strong.'

Chornobaivka Airport - where the latest HIMARS attack took place - is a strategically important airfield located in Ukraine's south that was captured by Russia in early in the war, and now serves as a military airfield.

It is hardly the first time the airstrip has been targeted by Ukrainian attacks, as a series of bombardments early in the war destroyed dozens of helicopters and inflicted heavy losses on Putin's men.

But as the frontline pushed further to the west, the airfield dropped out of range of Kyiv's men. However, with the arrival of American rocket systems it can be hit again.

The airfield is located close to Kherson, which is the only regional capital to have fallen to Putin's army and is set to be the focus of Ukraine's fight-back.

Russian state TV war reporter Alexander Sladkov - who has links to the shadowy Wagner Group and typically posts pro-Kremlin propaganda - wrote overnight that Ukraine 'has struck several times at our decision-making centres with results.'

He added: 'The centres are small but important. I will not write here where, when, how much, and who [was hit] in order not to give out military secrets.

'My question is simple: when will this bull**** end?

'Can you **** the military-industrial complex so that we finally have the preventive [means to stop these missile attacks].'

Defence minister Oleksii Reznikov revealed President Zelensky has given his generals orders to draw up plans for the attack and come up with a list of equipment they need to get the job done.

Reznikov says his job will then be to go to Ukraine's western allies and make the case for those weapons to be handed over, as he did with HIMARS.

'We're people of the free world and with a real sense of justice and liberty,' he told The Times.

'We have approximately 700,000 in the armed forces and when you add the national guard, police, border guard, we are around a million strong.'

 

'The list of high ranking Russian officers killed in the HIMARS strike in Kherson:

• Major General Nasbulin
• Colonel Gorobets
• Colonel Kens
• Lieutenant Colonel Koval
• Lieutenant Colonel Gordeev