Russia says phone use allowed Ukraine to target its troops

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Unauthorized use of cell telephones by Russian troopers led to a lethal Ukrainian rocket assault on the ability the place they had been stationed, the Russian navy mentioned late Tuesday, elevating the demise toll from the weekend assault to 89.

Gen. Lt. Sergei Sevryukov mentioned in an announcement that cellphone indicators allowed Kyiv’s forces to “decide the coordinates of the placement of navy personnel” and launch a strike. Sevryukov mentioned unspecified measures had been being taken to “forestall related tragic incidents sooner or later” and promised to punish officers liable for the infraction.

The assault, one of many deadliest on the Kremlin’s forces for the reason that begin of the battle over 10 months in the past, occurred one minute into the brand new yr, based on Sevryukov.

Ukrainian forces fired six rockets from a U.S.-provided HIMARS a number of launch system at a constructing “within the space of Makiivka” the place the troopers had been stationed. Two rockets had been downed however 4 hit the constructing and detonated, prompting the collapse of the construction. The Russian Protection Ministry initially mentioned the strike killed 63 troops. However as emergency crews sifted via the rubble of the constructing, the demise toll has grown to 89, Sevryukov mentioned on Tuesday. The regiment’s deputy commander was among the many useless.

Different, unconfirmed reviews put the demise toll a lot increased.

The Strategic Communications Directorate of Ukraine’s armed forces claimed Sunday that round 400 mobilized Russian troopers had been killed in a vocational faculty constructing in Makiivka and about 300 extra had been wounded. That declare couldn’t be independently verified. The Russian assertion mentioned the strike occurred “within the space of Makiivka” and didn’t point out the vocational faculty.

The assault marked one more setback for the Kremlin’s bogged-down battle effort in Ukraine, undermined by a profitable Ukrainian counteroffensive. It stirred renewed criticism inside Russia of the best way the battle is being carried out.

Unconfirmed reviews in Russian-language media mentioned the victims had been mobilized reservists from the area.