Russia has claimed its military carried out a deadly “retaliatory strike” on barracks used by Ukrainian soldiers in the Donbas region that killed 600 soldiers, a claim Ukraine has disputed.

Images we’ve pulled from the location of the strikes

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, missiles struck two temporary bases (college dormitories) in Kramatorsk that were housing 1,300 Ukrainian troops. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that at least 600 Ukrainian soldiers were killed due to the strike, characterizing it as a “retaliatory” attack for a strike Ukraine carried out on January 1st that killed at least 89 soldiers (Ukraine claims 600+ killed).

Images we’ve pulled from the location of the strikes

Images we’ve pulled from the location of the strikes

Ukraine disputes casualties:
Despite Russia’s claims, the Ukrainian military said there were no casualties from the Russian attack on Kramatorsk. Serhiy Cherevaty, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said Ukrainian soldiers “weren’t affected” by the strike.

Images we’ve pulled from the location of the strikes

Reuter’s claim:
News organization Reuters, which has reporters on the ground in Ukraine, said reporters from their team visited two college dormitories Russia claimed were where the strikes occurred. When arriving, the reporters said both buildings were not directly hit or seriously damaged by the strikes. They added that there were “no obvious signs” of any soldiers living at the facility or traces of blood.

Images we’ve pulled from the location of the strikes

Images we’ve pulled from the location of the strikes