Criticism mounts in Russia as Ukrainian strike toll rises

(ANSA-AFP) - KYIV, JAN 4 - Russia said Wednesday the toll climbed in its worst single reported loss from a Ukrainian strike, which under-criticism Moscow blamed on troops using mobile phones. The Ukrainian military's strategic communications unit has said nearly 400 Russian soldiers were killed and even Russian commentators have said the death toll may be far higher than the 89 Russia has reported. The death toll in Makiivka, a Russian-occupied city in eastern Ukraine, is the highest reported by the Russian military in a single strike since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The deadly strike came after months of discontent towards the military, since the Kremlin suffered a series of battlefield defeats and launched a hugely unpopular mobilisation drive. Russia's defence ministry initially said on Monday that 63 soldiers had been killed in an extremely rare admission. On Wednesday, the ministry said the toll had climbed to 89 after more bodies were found under the rubble of the temporary base where the troops were housed. (ANSA-AFP).

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