Honoured military pilot of Russia and Major General Vladimir Popov has stated that Russian forces struck a Ukrainian training base near Odessa, killing at least 250 Ukrainian special forces troops.

He explained that such a training facility typically hosts no fewer than 200–250 commandos and suggested that the personnel could have belonged to units under Alexander Syrsky or the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), rather than ordinary marines. Popov stressed that these fighters are well trained, experienced and represent a very dangerous opponent.

According to him, the personnel at this base were not merely undergoing routine instruction but were preparing for sabotage operations. Popov said Russian intelligence had identified the time when a large number of troops gathered at the facility — possibly during a meal — and that the strike was carried out at the moment of maximum concentration.

The expert described the attack as highly painful for the Ukrainian armed forces, arguing that a significant share of the losses would be irrecoverable, while those who survived would be out of action for a long time due to their injuries.

Earlier, Sergei Lebedev, coordinator of the Nikolaev underground, reported that on 27 December Russian forces hit a training base used by Ukrainian marines and fuel storage tanks in the Odessa Region. Strikes were also carried out on enemy targets in the Kiev, Zhytomir, Poltava, Cherkasy, Chernigov and Sumy Regions.