Russia admits mistakes over Makiivka shelling

After the Ukrainian attacks on a Russian military barracks in Makiivka in the Donetsk region, Russia has admitted its mistakes. After massive criticism.

Now the Defense Ministry in Moscow has corrected the number of its own soldiers killed by more than 20 to 89. The men and the deputy commander were found in the rubble of the collapsed reinforced concrete building after the rocket attack on New Year’s Eve, Lieutenant General Sergey Sevryukov said. Wednesday night in Moscow.

Russia puts forward this reason

Previously, there had been 63 deaths. Ukraine had fired on the hideout with the US multiple rocket launcher Himar. Sevryukov also acknowledged mistakes for the first time, thereby confirming media reports.

Accordingly, the main reason for the “tragedy” was that the soldiers massively used their mobile phones on New Year’s Eve despite a ban, drawing the attention of the Ukrainian side to their location. Ukrainian forces shot down six missiles, four of which hit and two were intercepted. Ukraine had spoken of 400 dead and 300 wounded in Makiivka.

The guilty would be held accountable

The investigations are still ongoing, but so much about the background is already clear, Sevryukov said. “This factor enabled the enemy to determine the direction and locate the coordinates of the soldiers’ position to carry out the missile attack.” Efforts are currently being made to ensure that this does not happen again. In addition, the guilty officials would be held accountable.

According to the ministry’s representative in Moscow, the Himars system has been located and destroyed. In addition, in response fire, Russian forces in the Donetsk region destroyed four Himars launch pads, four combat vehicles, more than 800 projectiles and killed more than 200 nationalists and foreign legionnaires. This information could not be independently verified.

Mass criticism of Russia – from Russia

Criticism of those responsible had grown on Russian social networks. “What happened in Makiivka is terrible,” writes a Russian military blogger with more than 700,000 Telegram subscribers.

The blogger, who calls himself Archangel Spetsnaz Z, asks: “Who came up with the idea of ​​putting large numbers of personnel in a building where even a fool understands that there will be many injuries or deaths even if they are hit by artillery? will?”

“Makiivka is criminal negligence!”

There was also criticism from Pavlo Hubaryev. He is the “People’s Governor of Donetsk Oblast” and a pro-Russian activist. At Telegram he writes: “Completion in small groups – everyone knows that. The mobilized may not know, but their superiors should know!”

And further: “These are the mistakes of spring and summer 2022. This is the eleventh month we are at war!” He demands: “If there is no punishment now, only the nadir will follow! Makiivka is criminal negligence!” (euc/SDA)