The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday (3) that signals transmitted by cell phones used without authorization by the country’s military indicated the location of an ammunition depot hit by an attack carried out by Ukraine with American artillery rockets on New Year’s Eve. Young.
A bulletin released by the folder admits that at least 89 reservists mobilized by Vladimir Putin for the war that started ten months ago died in action — the day before, 63 deaths had been confirmed.
“It is already obvious that the main reason for what happened was the activation and massive use of cell phones in range of enemy weapons,” the Russian ministry said in a statement.
In the war of versions that permeates the conflict, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine says that the death toll is even higher: more than 400 soldiers would have lost their lives, according to the folder. The action took place in Makiivka, a city adjacent to Donetsk, capital of the homonymous province under the control of Russian separatists since 2014. There was a barracks to house some of the 320,000 reservists called up last year.
It is the worst blow suffered by Putin’s much-criticized recruiting campaign, which could give the Kremlin muscle for new offensives. In response, Russian nationalists demanded punishment for the commanders of the affected troops – they criticize the fact that the military was housed next to an ammunition depot, which would be a strategic mistake.
Tributes to the dead servicemen were held in several Russian cities, including Samara, where some of the soldiers departed. Mourners laid flowers at a makeshift memorial downtown.
“I haven’t slept for three days, Samara hasn’t slept. We are constantly in touch with our guys’ wives. It’s very difficult and scary,” Yekaterina Kolotovkina, a representative of a women’s council, was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti news agency in a speech. . “But we can’t be shaken. We won’t forgive and, definitely, victory will be ours.”
The attack on Makiivka came as Russia launches waves of air strikes with missiles and drones, aimed at destroying Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the middle of winter, to buy time and reorganize its forces – as well as undermining the spirit of opponents.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video that the Russian strikes were aimed at “exhausting the people, air defenses, and energy” of Ukraine.
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