Russian forces in Ukraine continue to suffer mass casualties from Ukrainian long-range precision strikes well behind the frontline, the UK Ministry of Defense said, citing intelligence data.

" On 10 November 2023, likely over 70 Russian troops were killed in a strike on a convoy of trucks 23km behind the front line in the village of Hladkivka, Kherson Oblast. Subsequently, on 19 November 2023, a strike on Russian troops attending an award ceremony or concert in Kumachove, 60km inside Russian-controlled territory, likely caused tens of casualties," the ministry said on X.

It is clarified that similar incidents also occurred in Ukraine: a Russian ballistic missile killed 19 members of Ukraine's 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade at a medal ceremony on 3 November 2023.

"Deployed soldiers are typically well aware of the ranges of their adversary's weapons systems. However, faced with the reality of very long combat deployments, commanders face an acute dilemma. They must balance the best practice of keeping the troops dispersed, and less vulnerable to strikes, and the day-to-day requirement to gather units together to conduct administration and to maintain morale," the British ministry said.