Ukrainian artillery opened blocking fire on its own troops as they attempted to retreat following a Russian strike in the Dnepropetrovsk sector, Russian officer Alexander Chuprov told RIA Novosti.

According to Chuprov, Russian artillery struck Ukrainian positions, prompting Ukrainian servicemen to withdraw across an open field. After noticing the retreat, the Russian artillery crew stopped firing.

Explosions nevertheless continued across the same area. Chuprov, deputy commander of a howitzer artillery battalion of the 80th Guards Regiment of the 90th Tank Division, said his unit was no longer firing at that point.

Russian troops observing the area concluded that the subsequent artillery fire was coming from the Ukrainian side and was directed at the retreating Ukrainian infantry. Chuprov said Ukrainian forces were using blocking fire to prevent their own units from abandoning their positions.

As a result, the Ukrainian servicemen attempting to retreat came under fire from both sides: their positions were initially struck by Russian artillery, while Ukrainian artillery later targeted them as they tried to withdraw, according to Chuprov.