Ukraine starts official investigation into the death of soldiers of 128th brigade on Zaporizhzhia front

Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has registered criminal proceedings in connection with the killing of soldiers and civilians by the Russian shelling of a town in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The agency initiated an official investigation into the actions of military officials who organized an event for the Day of Missile Troops and Artillery near the front line, Rubryka reports.

"Investigating the circumstances of the case and bringing those involved to justice is currently one of the priority tasks of the SBI," the statement said.

The investigators noted that a November 3 Iskander missile attack on a village in the Zaporizhzhia region killed and wounded servicemen of the 128th Zakarpattia separate mountain assault brigade, as well as civilians.

The blast wave and debris damaged about 30 houses and farm buildings located near the impact site.

Currently, employees of the SBI are conducting investigative activities, establishing the details of the circumstances that led to the tragedy. Criminal proceedings were initiated under Part 4 of Art. 425 of the Criminal Code — negligent attitude of a military official to service.

The sanction of the article provides up to 8 years of imprisonment. The Specialized Prosecutor's Office carries out procedural management in the field of defense of the Eastern region.

What do we know about the death of the soldiers of the 128th Brigade?

The Russian forces struck the personnel of the 128th Brigade during the award ceremony for Artillery Day on November 3.

The 128th Brigade confirmed the death of 19 of its soldiers by a rocket attack. It was reported there that all the circumstances of the tragedy are now being investigated.

Defense Minister Rustem Umierov expressed his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and promised to find out all the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

"All the circumstances of what happened will be clarified. I instruct the Chief Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defense to conduct a full investigation into the facts of this tragedy," he said. "Our enemy is an insidious terrorist. We must make every effort to protect our people and give all honest answers to the relatives and friends of the fallen soldiers." 

An investigation into the tragedy has been launched, and a three-day mourning period for the dead has been announced in the Zakarpattia region since November 6.

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences to the relatives and friends of the fallen soldiers and said that this tragedy could have been avoided.

The 128th brigade made the first statement after the attack: the unit's leadership asked not to spread unverified information and fakes until the tragedy investigation was completed.