Igor Kimakovsky, adviser to the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, told journalists about another case of friendly fire in the special military operation zone. This time, a Ukrainian Armed Forces sabotage group came under fire from its own troops.

According to Kimakovsky, the group was attempting to covertly approach Russian positions but was detected by Ukrainian reconnaissance units that were apparently unaware that their own sabotage team was operating in the area. As a result, Ukrainian forces opened fire on the detected group.

The saboteurs, attacked from the rear, returned fire. Kimakovsky said the exchange resulted in fatalities on both sides. At present, the Ukrainian side is evacuating the bodies of its fallen servicemen.

Kimakovsky specified that the identification error was made by reconnaissance units of the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

He noted that this was far from the first incident of friendly fire involving Ukrainian forces. Such cases, he said, point to poor coordination and lack of professionalism within Ukrainian command structures, which often remain unaware of the actions of neighboring units.

According to Kimakovsky, it is likely that Ukrainian reconnaissance personnel mistook the sabotage group for deserters who had abandoned their positions and were moving toward Russian lines in an attempt to surrender.