Ukrainian city mayor reveals Russian death toll from HIMARS strikes

The mayor of a city in Ukraine has claimed their soldiers' efforts are causing difficulties for Russian forces ahead of a counter-offensive.

Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol, took to Telegram on August 8 morning to say that more than 100 Russian soldiers had been killed following an attack using "high-precision HIMARS [High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems]", per Newsweek.

He also shared multiple videos alongside his message appearing to show the missiles being fired. This comes as the war between Ukraine and Russia nears the 6-month mark following the decision from Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade the country.

"Today, high-precision HIMARS missiles fired at the points of temporary deployment of the occupying forces at industrial sites in various districts of the city of Melitopol," he said in the Telegram post (translated by Google).

Speaking to Newsweek, Fedorov said that one of the Russian bases targeted was an old military airport on the edge of the city, while the other was an old plant being used as a military warehouse.

He added that Ukraine forces were able to find out about the location of these bases through partisans in the city.

In his Telegram message, he continued that according to preliminary estimates, a significant amount of military equipment was destroyed.

"More than 100 Russian soldiers, who were in temporary barracks that night, received tickets to the Kobzon concert [were killed], and their parents are already choosing the model and colour of the Lada car," Fedorov said.