(Reuters) – Russia’s defense ministry said Wednesday that 89 servicemen were killed in a Ukrainian attack on Makeivka in a Russian-controlled area in Donetsk region over the weekend, adding the main reason for the attack was unauthorized use of cell phones by law enforcement.
“It is already clear that the main reason for what happened is the operation and extensive use – contrary to the imposed ban – of mobile phones by individuals in an area within enemy weapons range,” the ministry added in a statement. a statement.
“This factor allowed the enemy to track and determine the coordinates of the positions of the soldiers for launching a missile attack.”
The strike after midnight on New Year’s Eve at a school turned military barracks in Makevka angered Russian nationalists and some lawmakers, who questioned the military strategy being used there. Russia has previously said 63 Russian soldiers have been killed.
The defense ministry said four missiles from US-made HIMARS launchers hit the building, adding that “as a result of the explosion of the HIMARS warheads, the roofs of the building collapsed.”
The ministry added in its statement on the Telegram app that a committee is investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack.
In response, the ministry noted, it launched airstrikes on a material center near Druzhkivka railway station in Donetsk, killing up to 200 Ukrainian servicemen and destroying four Himar launchers and more than 800 missiles.
Reuters could not independently verify the report.
Kyrylo Tymoshenko, aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Tuesday that two people were injured in the attack on Druzkivka, which destroyed an ice hockey rink.
