89 Russian soldiers died in the attack in Kiev, Moscow blames their phones
WAR in Ukraine – Ukraine’s New Year’s Eve attack in Makiivka killed 89 people, Russia said Wednesday, as rallies to commemorate soldiers killed on Jan. 4 sparked rare public displays of anger and grief.
At 12:01 a.m. (11:01 p.m. Paris) on January 1, the Russian death toll was raised to an initial estimate of 63 after new bodies were discovered in the ruins of a building in Makivka, the target of a Ukrainian strike. ), Russian General Sergey Sevryukov said in a video message released by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
“Currently, the commission is investigating the situation” told about the attack. “But it is already clear that the main reason (…) is the activation of mobile phones in the range of enemy weapons and the mass use of personnel, contrary to the ban.”this would allow geo-location of troops, the general explained.
Call ” revenge ยป
It is the heaviest loss in an offensive Moscow has acknowledged since the offensive began in February.
In Russia, where the authorities have remained tight-lipped about the military casualties in Ukraine, about 200 people have gathered for an Orthodox mourning ceremony in Samara (center), where some of the fallen soldiers were, with the permission of the authorities.
“It’s very difficult, it’s scary. But we cannot be broken. Sadness unites us”Ekaterina Kolotovkina, president of a group of soldiers’ wives, “revenge”.
We are waiting for a reaction from Putin
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed on Monday that it struck Makivka, east of the separatist city of Donetsk, on New Year’s Eve. The Ministry of Defense of Moscow released information about the explosion “four rockets”. Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to publicly react to the strike.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the missiles were fired by HIMARS systems, a weapon provided to Ukrainian forces by the United States. “temporary accommodation center” Russian army at Makiivka.
Russian General Sergey Sevryukov claimed that his forces destroyed several Ukrainian missile launchers in the Drujkivka region of Donetsk region, killing 200 Ukrainians and foreign mercenaries after the attack on Makiivka. Ukraine, in turn, reported the death of one person and the destruction of the ice rink.
Meanwhile, the Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed that about 400 Russian soldiers were killed in Makiivka. The announcement of these heavy losses immediately led to criticism of the military command in Russia, in particular, former separatist leader Igor Strelkov, who is very familiar with the situation on the ground, accused the building of storing unsecured ammunition.
“Dangerous and Criminal”
Increasingly influential Russian war correspondents claim that hundreds of people were killed in Makiivka and accuse senior military commanders of failing to learn from their past mistakes.
“Ten months after the start of the war, it is dangerous and criminal to think of the enemy as a blind fool”– said Andrey Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow City Legislative Assembly.
Some on social media accused the Russian authorities of understating the death toll. The announcement of the Makiivka strike came after a New Year marked by Russian bombings of Kyiv and other cities, killing five and injuring dozens.
“After February 24, 40 percent of the territories were occupied” was released
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that since the beginning of 2023, the army has shot down more than 80 drones. “This number may increase in the near future”, he said. Chief of the General Staff of Ukraine, Valery Zalujny, claimed that the soldiers have been released so far “After February 24, 40 percent of the territories were occupied”.
After a series of military setbacks on the ground and Ukrainian attacks targeting Russian territory and the annexation of Crimea, Moscow has opted to bomb Ukraine’s infrastructure since October, causing regular power, heat and water cuts.
According to a UN human rights official, they cause“great difficulties” to Ukrainians.
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