It’s unusual: Russia recognized almost immediately Dozens of victims, up to 63, after the weekend bombing of the city of Makiivka in Donetsk, occupied by Moscow, where six Ukrainian missiles fell “during the New Year’s dinner”. Now Russian nationalists are harshly interrogating military officials for exposing the soldiers, many of them newly mobilized conscripts. The death toll could be much higher.
The Russian Defense Ministry, however, did not specify the exact date when the bombing occurred, but said it was an attack with HIMARS rocket launchersa type of weapon delivered by the United States to Ukraine.
Ukraine for its part has estimated the dead at 400, stating that it had bombed up to 10 vehicles and an unknown number of soldiers in Makiivka and ensures that the attack took place on December 31st.
Many in Russian militarist and nationalist circles they are outraged for what they perceive as criminal negligence by the high command. Apparently all the recruits were stationed in the same building, without any protection.
Worse, the building is also said to have housed a large ammunition depot. “A typical example of stupidity military”, wrote a very popular account on the Telegram messaging service, which, like many others, is demanding exemplary sanctions.
“I think they don’t realize the level of stupidity of the army,” one blogger often wrote, adding: “Those whose inaction leads to such consequences they should be shot“.
“Criminal Neglect”
“Everyone has known this for a long time you have to divide the men into small groups“adds another. “And if the mobilized don’t know about it, at least the command should know about it. There must be a punishment, what happened is criminal negligence!”.
The frustration is further compounded by the weapon used, the HIMARS, the precise and mobile missile launcher, a symbol of Western aid to the Ukrainians which the Russian Defense Ministry continues to boast of having destroyed in whole batteries. But if you add up all the declared destructions, a total of 44 HIMARS were deactivated out of the 40 delivered to Ukraine…
“How ugly,” a pro-Russian military blogger recently joked. “The Ukrainians have -4 HIMARS left and this is enough to terrify our entire army.”
a city in mourning
With flowers and prayers, various demonstrations all over Russia they paid tribute this Tuesday to the dozens of soldiers killed in an attack in eastern Ukraine who, in addition to sparking criticism, shocked the country.
About 200 people attended a tribute in the city of Samara (middle), where some of the dead soldiers came from, an unusual occurrence in Russia where authorities are keeping a strict silence on military casualties in Ukraine.
Several people laid roses or wreaths in front of a flame in one of the city’s main squares, bowing respectfully or making the sign of the cross.
An Orthodox priest recited a prayer, followed by soldiers firing their rifles into the air.
According to local media, rallies were held in other cities of the region, such as Togliatti and Syzran.
The losses, among the largest suffered by Moscow in a single attack since the launch of the offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, have shocked Russia and unleashed an avalanche of criticism from nationalist commentators who have favored military intervention.
The emotion provoked by these losses, another blow to the Kremlin after the setbacks it suffered a few months ago, was reinforced by the fact that soldiers killed they were reservists who had been mobilized.
“I haven’t slept for three days,” Ekaterina Kolotovkina, wife of a Russian general and chairwoman of the 2nd Guards Women’s Council of the Combined Army, told Samara at the ceremony.
“We are in permanent contact with the wives of our boys. It’s very difficult, it’s scary. But we can’t break up. Grief unites,” he added.
Three days after the attack, announced in the middle of the week of the Orthodox holiday, Russian President Vladimir Putin He hasn’t reacted yet.
After the defeats suffered by Moscow in recent months in Kharkov (northeast) and Kherson (south), which have provoked criticism from the Russian General Staff, the Makiivka massacre represents another setback, with calls to punish those responsible.
Several voices have been raised to denounce the fact that ammunition will be stored in the same building used to house the soldiers, who were also allowed to use their own cell phones, making it possible to have been geolocated by Ukrainian gunners.
“What conclusions will they draw? Who will they punish?” said Mikhail Matveyev, a communist lawmaker from Samara.
How many deaths have there been?
Several pro-war commentators, who have large followings on social media, have also questioned the 63 death toll, which consider undervalued.
The Rybar Telegram account, with more than a million subscribers, denounced the “criminal naivety” of housing soldiers next to an ammunition depot whose explosion would have aggravated the death toll.
In Ukraine, the government also says it has suffered several Russian attacks since New Years.
The village received fire from on Monday Iranian-made drones, but most have been torn down, according to authorities. President Volodimir Zelensky said his army had shot down more than 80 planes.
According to Kharkiv (northeast) region governor Oleg Synegoubov, Ukraine’s second largest city and its region have been targeted by Russian missiles.
The most intense fighting is taking place around the city of Bakhmut (east), which is not strategically important but which Russian forces, led by the Wagner mercenary group, have been trying to take for months.
AFP AND RFI
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Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.