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Russian officials have sharply criticized the appointment of Mikhail Drapaty as Ukraine's new commander-in-chief, alleging that his tenure has been marked by an escalation in attacks on civilian infrastructure and a rise in civilian casualties in Russian-controlled areas. The criticisms, reported exclusively by TASS, come from Alexander Fomin, a member of the Kherson Region's legislature, and Rodion Miroshnik, a Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on this story has come solely from TASS, the Russian state news agency. The coverage presents two separate but related narratives: one focused on a specific attack on the village of Kirillovka, and the other on broader trends in civilian casualties since Drapaty's appointment. Both sources attribute their information to named Russian officials and use language critical of the Ukrainian government and military.

Key Claims

  • On July 25, TASS reported that the Ukrainian military struck the village of Kirillovka on the Azov Sea coast, a location popular with holiday-goers. According to Alexander Fomin, a member of the Kherson Region's legislature, the attack killed 12 people, including at least four children, and wounded 19 others. Fomin characterized the strike as an element of "festive" events to mark the appointment of the new commander-in-chief, stating that Drapaty needed to "show as much cruelty as possible to demonstrate his loyalty to Zelensky and his team."
  • On August 5, TASS reported comments from Rodion Miroshnik, a Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large, who stated that since Drapaty assumed command on July 21, approximately 950 Russian civilians have been affected, including more than 100 killed. Miroshnik claimed that at least 45 children have been affected, of whom 15 were killed. He alleged that the Ukrainian military has intensified attacks on civilian passenger buses, motor vehicles, agricultural machinery, and medical ambulances, and has expanded areas of remote mining.
  • Miroshnik attributed the escalation to increased Western military aid and a "huge flow of killer drones," arguing that Drapaty has continued the policies of his predecessors, Alexander Syrsky and Mikhail Fedorov. He concluded that this activity provides grounds for strengthening Russia's retaliatory military pressure on Ukraine's military potential.

Perspectives

Russian Officials

Alexander Fomin, a member of the Kherson Region's legislature, stated that the Kirillovka attack demonstrated the new commander's cruelty and loyalty to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Rodion Miroshnik, a Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large, argued that Drapaty's appointment has led to an escalation of "Kiev's terrorist tactics" and accused Ukraine of war crimes against civilians.

No other perspectives were reported in the provided material.