The rockets hit the village of Makiivka just before or just after midnight on New Year’s Eve. The attack was confirmed by the Ukrainian General Staff, which is still working to establish how many soldiers were killed.
Ukrainian forces are said to have fired rockets at a school building where a large number of Russian soldiers were staying.
– In an attack with four rockets with high-explosive warheads on a temporary camp, 63 Russian soldiers were killed, writes the Moscow Defense Ministry in a daily update.
It is very rare for the Russian authorities to recognize such a high loss of their own soldiers. Since the invasion began on February 24 last year, Russia has not conceded such a huge loss.
According to Russian authorities, it was American-made Himars rockets that hit the camp.
– Destroyed a lot of military equipment
The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed on Monday afternoon that the Ukrainian military was behind the attack.
Up to ten units of military equipment of various kinds were said to have been destroyed in a statement. Work is still ongoing to determine human losses, he says.
Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian military’s communications department reported that nearly 400 Russian soldiers had been killed in the attack, but this number has not been confirmed by other sources.
– He doesn’t teach
Russian war correspondents are among those who believe far more soldiers were killed than authorities reported. They believe hundreds of soldiers may have been killed.
In recent months, war correspondents have gained more influence in Russian public opinion. They strongly criticize Russia’s military leaders, who they believe have not learned from past mistakes.
The number of killed and wounded is almost impossible to verify independently, and both sides of the conflict like to exaggerate their opponent’s losses and give underestimated figures for their own.
Ukrainian soldiers fire a grenade at Russian positions at Avdijivka in Donetsk on Boxing Day. Photo: Libkos / AP
– Unprotected building
Several Russian military bloggers, journalists and some politicians criticize the decision to place many soldiers in the same place without adequate defense.
Igor Girkin, also known as Igor Strelkov, says that most of the soldiers were mobilized in connection with the war and that they were stationed in an unprotected building that was almost completely destroyed in the attack. It is said that the reason was that ammunition was stored in the building, and that it exploded during the attack.
Girkin also believes that “hundreds” of soldiers were killed and wounded. In a social media post, he writes that many people are still trapped in the bricks.
Girkin is a Russian ultranationalist who was previously the leader of the separatists in Donetsk.
Ask for help for survivors
Some accuse the Russian authorities of underestimating the death toll.
– Dear God, who will believe in number 63? The building was completely destroyed, writes Russian Nina Vernykh on one of the country’s largest social media sites, VKontakte.
In a message on social media, Russians are asked to collect clothes, medicines and equipment for those who survived the attack.
– Everything that the mobilized had is under the ruins, says the message.
– The enemy is not stupid
In Moscow, a local politician criticizes the Russian authorities, who he says have underestimated his opponent.
– Ten months into the war, it is dangerous and criminal to regard the enemy as an idiot who sees nothing, says Andrey Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Moscow city council.
In Samara County, which is more than 80 miles southeast of Moscow, Governor Dmitry Azarov writes that many of the victims are from his district. To receive inquiries from relatives, a separate hotline was set up with the authorities, according to Azarov.
– Exaggerated number of deaths
Others believe the death toll is significant, but not as high as worst estimates.
– As for the talk of 500 dead, it is nonsense, writes Russian blogger Boris Rozjin, who at the same time notes that according to Russian law he cannot declare any number of victims.
At the same time, he says there are a “significant number” of dead and wounded. Rozjin goes by Colonelcassad and has over 800,000 followers on Telegram.
Russia has carried out several attacks against Ukraine on both New Year’s and New Year’s Eve. At least five people were killed and several dozen injured, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Kiev was again attacked with Iranian-made drones on Monday, but Ukrainian forces say most have been shot down by air defense systems.
