A devastating strike has reportedly wiped out the entire command of a Russian military headquarters in occupied Selydove, Donetsk region, dealing a major blow to Moscow's offensive operations in eastern Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian military sources, the precision strike targeted the headquarters of the 35th separate guards motorized rifle brigade, which operates under Russia's 41st Combined Arms Army. While initial reports suggested the attack was carried out using a guided aerial bomb, multiple sources indicate a U.S.-supplied HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) was responsible for the strike.
Drone footage captured the moment of impact, showing a powerful explosion erupting in the middle of residential buildings where the Russian command post was located. The strike left a substantial crater at the site.
Russian military bloggers on Telegram channels confirmed heavy casualties among the officer corps. "Our brigade is in mourning. Our commanders have passed away... All at once. The entire headquarters," one prominent Russian military correspondent wrote.
Former Ukrainian internal affairs advisor Anton Gerashchenko shared details that the reconnaissance drone used in the operation was piloted by a female geography teacher with the call sign "Ultra" from Dnipro city.
The timing of this strike is particularly impactful as Russian forces have been attempting to capture the strategic hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Recent analysis from the Institute for the Study of War indicates that while fighting remains intense, Russian advances in the Pokrovsk direction have stalled and casualty numbers are declining.
The elimination of an entire brigade command structure represents a notable tactical success for Ukrainian forces as they continue defensive operations in the eastern theater. Neither the Russian nor Ukrainian defense ministries have officially commented on the incident.