At New Year celebration – 63 Russian reservists killed in Donbass

It was very unusual for Moscow to confirm the many soldiers who died after the attack on the town of Makiivka (Russian: Makeyevka) in the Donbass. It was the highest self-reported death toll in one place since the start of the war. However, many still think the number is too low.

Dead and injured under the rubble
As reported, the Ukrainian army launched rocket attacks on New Year’s Eve. According to media reports, Russian reservists, who had been called up as a result of the ordered partial mobilization, have gathered in the building for a New Year’s celebration. Images and a video of the remains of a completely collapsed building were posted on social networks. Under the rubble were probably dead and injured.

Cell phones revealed the location
The Ukrainian military is said to have learned of its location due to high mobile phone data traffic. According to unconfirmed reports, the temporary shelter was located next to an ammunition depot, causing devastating explosions.

Criticism of ammunition storage
Russian military bloggers reacted angrily to the ammunition depot in the immediate vicinity of the district. Igor Girkin, a prominent former commander of pro-Russian forces in Ukraine, also wrote about military equipment being stored there uncamouflaged. “Who came up with the idea of ​​putting a lot of personnel in one building when even an idiot knows that an artillery hit would cause many deaths or injuries?” wrote blogger Archangel Spetznaz Z, who has more than 700,000 followers on Telegram . . Every bug has a name.

Meanwhile, the Russian army continued airstrikes on Ukrainian cities for the third night in a row. That could indicate a new tactic. Until now, larger attacks had been carried out at intervals of about a week.