Kremlin Blames the Death of 89 Russian Troops for Cellphone Use
The Ukrainian strike that targeted phone coordinates has provoked backlash from Russian nationalists against Moscow’s military strategy
Workers clear debris from a damaged building. It was purportedly a vocational college that served as temporary accommodation for Russian soldiers who were killed in a Ukrainian missile attack. This incident occurred during the Russia-Ukraine conflict at Makiivka, Russian-controlled Ukraine on January 3, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko Reuters • January 4, 2023 11:05 am
(Reuters)—Russia‘s defense ministry said on Wednesday that 89 servicemen were killed in the Ukrainian attack on Makiivka in the Moscow-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, adding the main reason for the attack was unauthorized use of mobile phones by the troops.
“It is already obvious that the main reason for what happened was the switching on and massive use— contrary to the prohibition—by personnel of mobile phones in a reach zone of enemy weapons,” In a statement, the ministry stated.
“This factor allowed the enemy to track and determine the coordinates of the soldiers’ location for a missile strike.”
The strike just after midnight on New Year’s Day on a school that was converted into military quarters in Makiivka has spurred anger among Russian nationalists and some lawmakers, questioning the military strategy used there. Russia previously said 63 Russian soldiers were killed.
According to the defense ministry, four rockets fired from HIMARS launchers made in the United States hit the building. “from the detonation of the warheads of the HIMARS rockets, the ceilings of the building collapsed.”
In its statement about Telegram, the ministry stated that a commission was investigating the circumstances of this attack.
In return, the ministry suggested it launch air strikes that were launched at a “hardware concentration” Near Druzhkivka station in Donetsk. Up to 200 Ukrainians were killed and four HIMARS launchers destroyed.
Reuters could not independently verify the report.
Kyrylo Tymoshenko was an aide of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zilensky and said Tuesday that two people were injured in the attack on Druzhkivka which resulted in the destruction of an ice hockey arena.
(Reporting by Lidia Kelley and David Ljunggren; Writing By Lidia Kelly; Editing by Grant McCool
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