The unauthorized use of mobile phones by Russian soldiers led to the weekend attack by Ukrainian troops on an installation in Makiivka, which killed 89 soldiers, Russian defense sources said.
Russian Lieutenant General Sergei Sevryukov said in a statement that the phone signals enabled Kiev troops to “determine the coordinates of the location of soldiers” and launch a “missile” attack.
Sergei Sevryukov indicated that measures were taken, which he did not specify, to “prevent similar tragic incidents in the future”. The official promised to punish the offenders.
The attack, one of the deadliest against Kremlin forces since the start of the war in Ukraine more than 10 months ago, took place a minute after the start of the new year, according to Sevryukov.
Ukrainian forces fired six missiles from a US-supplied HIMARS multiple launch system at a building “in the Makiivka area” in the Donetsk region where Russian soldiers were stationed.
Two ‘missiles’ were shot down, but four hit the building and exploded, causing the building to collapse.
The Russian Defense Ministry made an initial estimate of 63 soldiers killed in the attack. Meanwhile, after emergency teams checked the building’s debris, the death toll rose to 89, Sevryukov said today.
Among the dead is the deputy commander of the Russian regiment.
Source: DN
