Since this shelling took place, DNR authorities have become more ambitious about the capabilities of the Cheburashka. On June 5, the “Head” of the DNR, Aleksandr Zakharchenko, threatened to fire on Ukrainian forces conducting exercises on the Azov Sea by firing on them with a Cheburashka on a sea vessel (likely a motor boat).

There have been no credible indications that the DNR has the capabilities to carrying out a sea attack with the Cheburashka MLRS.

Context and Reaction

True to form with the ongoing war in eastern Ukraine, this attack with indiscriminate, unguided shells was heavily publicized and largely conducted as a propaganda stunt. The DNR and friendly media outlets, including WarGonzo, LifeNews, and Izvestiya, were on hand to film the shelling both from the ground and sky, with a drone in position for the incoming shells.

WarGonzo, for example, framed the attack as “revenge for Mamai,” the separatist commander who was killed in a Ukrainian attack on May 21 — the day before the timestamp on the Donetsk24 video of the Avdiivka shelling. On the shells of the rockets launched towards Ukrainian positions, DNR forces wrote “For Givi”, “For Motor[ola]”, and “For Mamai”, referencing various killed separatist commanders.