Jakarta –
Russia claims also came under the onslaught of Ukraine at the beginning New Year 2023. Indeed, Russia has reported that dozens of its soldiers died in the assault.
As AFP reported on Tuesday (3/1/2023), the Ukrainian assault took place in an area controlled by Russia, namely the city of Makiivka. A total of four Ukrainian missiles were reported to have hit this area.
The Russian Defense Ministry said 63 Russian soldiers were killed in a four-rocket attack on the city in eastern Ukraine.
It was Moscow’s biggest casualty so far in the protracted conflict since President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to strike on Feb. 24 last year.
Russia’s Defense Ministry did not say exactly when the attack occurred. However, Ukrainian troops are believed to have attacked while Russian troops were celebrating New Year’s Eve.
The ministry said the US-supplied Himars missile system was used and that the target was a temporary deployment point.
Without claiming the attack, the Ukrainian military claimed nearly 400 Russian soldiers were killed.
Meanwhile, the former Russian separatist leader, Igor Strelkov, said troops composed mainly of mobilized Russians stationed in an undefended building had been “almost completely” destroyed. This was due to the explosion of the ammunition stored there during the attack. He said “hundreds” were killed or injured.
Subsequently, the governor of Samara Dmitry Azarov said that among the victims were residents of his region, adding that a hotline had been set up for their relatives. On social media, some have accused Russian authorities of underestimating the death toll.
“My God, who would believe number 63? The building has been completely destroyed,” wrote a Russian, Nina Vernykh, on Russia’s largest social network, VKontakte.
Watch the video: 63 Russian soldiers killed by missiles on New Year’s Eve
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