In the early hours of New Year’s Day, Ukrainian forces launched a devastating attack on Russian military personnel stationed in the Moscow-controlled Donetsk region of Ukraine.
Ukraine Strikes Military Facility in Moscow-Controlled Donetsk, Causing Highest Casualties Since Beginning of War
According to reports, six rockets were fired at a facility in the town of Makiivka, with two of them being shot down by the Russian defense ministry. However, the remaining rockets caused a catastrophic loss of life, with 63 soldiers killed in the attack – the highest number of casualties suffered by the Russian military since the conflict began over 10 months ago.
The strike was carried out using a US-supplied precision weapon, which has been instrumental in allowing Ukrainian forces to target key locations effectively. The attack has dealt a major blow to Russia, which has recently suffered setbacks as a result of a Ukrainian counter-offensive. In addition to the soldiers killed, an unknown number of civilians from the Samara region were also injured in the strike.
While the attack on Makiivka was occurring, the Russian military was also heavily targeting the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. On Monday, over 40 drones were deployed by Russia towards Kyiv, causing damage to energy infrastructure facilities and leading to an explosion in one city district. It is unclear whether the explosion was caused by the drones or other munitions.
The aerial bombardment by Russia has left many Ukrainian citizens without heat during the cold winter months, leading Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accuse Russia of “energy terrorism.” There have been accusations that Russia is using the harsh winter weather as a weapon in an effort to demoralize the Ukrainian resistance.
In response to the Ukrainian attack on Makiivka, the Moscow-installed administration of the Donetsk region stated that at least 25 rockets were fired at the region on New Year’s Eve. Russian state news agency TASS reported that at least 15 people were injured in Makiivka, which is a major coal-producing center, as a result of the shelling with High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
According to Daniil Bezsonov, a senior Russian-backed official in the Moscow-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, a vocational school serving as military personnel quarters was also struck in the attack, which occurred two minutes after midnight on New Year’s Day. Bezsonov reported that there were fatalities and injuries from the strike, but the exact number is unknown. The building itself sustained significant damage.
The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on the attack, but in its daily report on Sunday, it stated that it had destroyed seven HIMARS rockets in the area of Makiivka. Reuters was unable to independently verify the reports of the attack.
In addition to the casualties suffered by the Russian military in Makiivka, it is also believed that there were casualties among the local population. The attack has resulted in widespread outrage among Russian nationals, with many calling for a strong response to the aggression by Ukraine. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days and weeks, but it is clear that tensions between the two countries are at an all-time high.
