Ukraine: 63 Russian Soldiers Killed in the East

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] On the 2nd (local time), major foreign media reported that 63 Russian soldiers were killed in a missile attack in the Russian-occupied area of eastern Ukraine. Russia carried out airstrikes on Ukraine for three consecutive days during the year-end and New Year period, including launching 40 suicide drones at the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated in a press release that "a missile equipped with a high-explosive warhead attacked a temporary accommodation for Russian troops in Makiivka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, killing 63 soldiers."

The Ministry of Defense added that the Ukrainian military fired six High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) missiles, and the air defense system intercepted two of them. The exact time of the incident was not disclosed, but it is reported that the attack occurred between New Year's Eve and early New Year's Day.

This information first became known when a video showing the complete destruction of a vocational school in Makiivka was released online. Russia, which had not commented on the video until the previous day, unusually officially announced its military losses on the same day.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense did not directly mention the attack but claimed that the actual death toll could reach up to 400. The Ukrainian side explained, "Last night, 58 (Russian) wounded were transported," adding, "This number is higher than usual casualties, and if the information that hundreds were killed is true, this is not a large figure."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Russia continues to carry out airstrikes on Ukraine even in the New Year.

Vitaliy Klychko, mayor of Kyiv, stated that some energy infrastructure in Kyiv was damaged by explosions last night, and one person was injured and transported to the hospital. Emergency blackouts were implemented in some parts of the city.

Additionally, 40 suicide drones attacked Kyiv overnight, and the air defense system shot down all of them. Mayor Klychko added that 22 were intercepted over Kyiv, 3 on the outskirts of Kyiv, and 15 in neighboring areas of Kyiv.