A vehicle carrying four Russian soldiers from the so-called “Akhmat” unit was destroyed in a powerful explosion near Skadovsk in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied Kherson region. The explosion, which took place on 20 May, killed all four occupants and triggered a secondary blast when the ammunition they were carrying detonated.
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) confirmed the incident on Thursday through a public statement. The destroyed vehicle, identified as a UAZ Patriot, was travelling between Skadovsk and Antonivka when it exploded. According to the GUR, the explosion was immediately followed by another loud detonation as munitions onboard ignited, leaving no chance of survival for the Russian personnel involved.
The soldiers were identified as part of the so-called “Akhmat” unit, closely linked to the Chechen regime and known to operate alongside Russian forces during the invasion of Ukraine. These forces, commonly referred to as “Kadyrovites”, are widely associated with brutality and war crimes in occupied Ukrainian territories.
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reiterated that acts of retribution for war crimes are ongoing and will continue. The GUR stated, “There will be fair retribution for every war crime committed against the Ukrainian people.”
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Ukrainian media also reported the elimination of Mykhailo Shatsky, a senior Russian defence engineer based in Moscow. Shatsky, deputy general designer and head of software at the Mars Design Bureau, played a key role in upgrading Russian cruise missiles and developing new unmanned aerial vehicles.
