The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces has confirmed the July 11 strike on a local hotel turned into Russian military barracks in occupied Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
According to the General Staff, Russian forces have been actively transporting the bodies of killed soldiers from the hotel called Dune to local morgues.
Russian and Ukrainian sources alleged that the strike killed Russia's Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov, which was later confirmed by Andrey Gurulev, a Russian lawmaker and former commander of the 58th Army.
Russia's Defense Ministry hasn't commented on these reports. Ukraine's military also didn't mention anything about Tsokov's death.
According to the independent Russian media outlet Meduza, Tsokov held the post of deputy commander of Russia's Southern Military District.
His appointment was not officially announced, but it could explain why Tsokov appeared in Berdiansk, despite his 144 division fighting in Ukraine's Luhansk Oblast, Meduza wrote.
Attacks in Russian-occupied territories have become more frequent in recent months in what is likely part of Ukraine's counteroffensive, now underway in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts.
Martin Fornusek
(Updated: )
