Sources say a chaotic withdrawal from Donetsk was mistaken for a Ukrainian advance and led to a deadly drone strike in the village of Opytne
More than 60 Russian soldiers may have been killed or wounded by friendly fire as they made a hasty retreat from the village of Opytne, in the Donetsk region, Russian sources have said.
The chaotic withdrawal was mistaken for a rapid Ukrainian advance across an open field by a Russian drone operator who ordered an artillery strike.
Pro-Kremlin military bloggers initially said that the 200 Russian troops were retreating to “more favourable positions”, as Ukrainian forces gradually overcame their defences around the village, which is less than two miles north of Donetsk airport.
But one source with knowledge of the incident said: “Unfortunately, not everyone retreated clearly and harmoniously. Some of the fighters retreated to new positions chaotically and almost in panic.