At least 1 Ukrainian soldier was killed and 8 more injured in what is reported a mortar malfunction during gunnery exercises.
The incident occurred on April 14 close to midday at a firing range near the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast some 540 kilometers southeast of Kyiv, according to Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigations.
The 82-millimeter mortar reportedly exploded during firing, the law enforcers said.
“A 24-year Special Operations soldier 1st class was killed in the explosion,” the report says.
“Eight service members who were standing near the mortar (at the moment of the blast) sustained injuries of various severity.”
The investigators also added that the weapon’s malfunction was caused by a safety rules violation by personnel.
Between 2016 and 2018, the Ukrainian military also had as many as 9 deadly incidents involving 120-millimeter mortars M120-15 Molot, which were accepted in service in 2016. Due to malfunctions and subsequent explosions during firing exercises, at least 13 service members were killed and more 32 injured by late 2018.
The history of deadly incidents drew public uproar and accusations towards the manufacturer, Kyiv-based Mayak Plant, over the allegedly low quality of the mortars.
Nonetheless, criminal investigations resulted in no indictments of officials and manufacturers involved in the production of the Molots for the military.
