Russian Defense Ministry admits losing 89 servicemen in Makiivka

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the information.

According to the Russian ministry, the artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on January 1 at 00:01 a.m. Moscow time launched 6 HIMARS missiles at the temporary deployment of one of the Russian military units near Makiivka. Two of the missiles were allegedly intercepted by Russian air defense, and the remaining 4 "missiles with high-explosive warheads" hit the building where the Russian military was stationed. The detonation of the warheads caused the building’s ceiling to collapse.

The ministry said they had cleared the rubble and confirmed the deaths of 89 soldiers. Among them was the deputy commander of the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Bachurin.

Russia says that the circumstances of the events in Makiivka are being "investigated by a special commission" and that the victims and families of the killed soldiers are being "provided with all necessary assistance and support." The main reason for what happened is declared to be "the use of phones by the personnel in the range of enemy weapons.” And the officials responsible for the incident are promised to be brought to justice following the results of the investigation.

• Journalist Denys Kazanskyi reported that on New Year's Eve the Ukrainian Armed Forces hit the Russian barracks in the temporarily occupied Makiivka deployed in a vocational school No. 19 with HIMARS. According to information from local chat rooms, hundreds of Russian soldiers were killed as a result of the strike. 
• On January 2, the Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged the death of 63 Russian soldiers in Makiivka.