“The number of our dead comrades rises to 89”, Lieutenant General Sergei Sevriukov said in a video released by the Defense Ministry. More bodies were found under the rubble, he added.
One of the main reasons for the attack was “the use of mobile phones” by soldiers, that allowed his location to be revealed, he said.
Ukraine attacked a makeshift base in Makéyevka in the early morning of January 1. with an American HIMARS rocket system, Sevriukov said.
The attack occurred just after Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his traditional New Year’s message.
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In a rare announcement, Russia had acknowledged Monday that 63 soldiers were killed in the Makéyevka attackthe highest number of casualties in a single action reported by Moscow since the start of the offensive on February 24.
The acknowledgment of the casualties came after Russian war correspondents, whose influence has grown in recent months, accused the Russian high command of gross incompetence.
kyiv claimed responsibility for the attack, and its military claims the death toll is higher.
Sevriukov assured that measures are being taken to prevent such incidents from happening again and that those responsible will be punished.
He also assured that Russia destroyed the Ukrainian multiple launch rocket system used in the Makéyevka attack.
The entrance The number of Russian soldiers killed in an attack in eastern Ukraine rises to 89 was first published on newspaper TODAY.
