Russian military base destruction in Makiivka will shake Putin's authority as military leader

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.

Analysts note that the Russian Ministry of Defense, although it has acknowledged losses, is trying to shift responsibility for them to puppets from the quasi-republic "DPR". They, in turn, claim that soldiers who used phones and thereby enabled Ukrainian Armed Forces to track signals and clearly determine coordinates for attack are to blame for everything.

"The Russian MoD’s vague acknowledgment of the strike generated criticism towards the Russian military command, however," ISW report says.

According to experts, milbloggers associated with Wagner's PMC emphasized that Russian military command made it easier for Ukrainian forces to strike by keeping several hundred soldiers in one place, and also called DPR's explanation regarding use of mobile phones "a lie."

Other milbloggers claimed that the command had witnessed similar attacks over the last 11 months, but showed "criminal negligence" and did not even try to disperse troops in Makiivka to smaller groups in the rear.

The Institute for the Study of War adds that such military setbacks will increasingly complicate Putin's efforts to appease the pro-war community and maintain a dominant narrative in the domestic information space.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the military and the Investigative Committee to investigate the incident in Makiivka by January 6. Putin’s inability to address the criticism and fix the flaws in Russia’s military campaign may undermine his credibility as a hands-on war leader," analysts concluded.

• On New Year's Eve, Ukrainian Armed Forces hit barracks of Russian occupying forces in Makiivka with HIMARS. Russian Ministry of Defense claims they lost 63 soldiers.