Russia suffers deadliest day of war so far after Ukraine strike ‘kills hundreds’ during Putin’s New Year’s Eve speech

THE moment Vladimir Putin was giving his New Year message on television, Russia suffered one of its worst losses of the war in Ukraine. “Hundreds” of mobilised troops died in a Ukrainian strike on barracks in the Donbas region just before the clock struck midnight. East2WestA Ukrainian soldier posed next to the missile that struck the barracks[/caption] East2WestThe barracks was completely destroyed from the missile[/caption] The deadly strike was 115 miles from where Putin “pre-recorded” his New Year’s message with dozens of troops in Russia’s Rostov region. The West was “cynically using Ukraine and its people to weaken and divide Russia”, he claimed. Russia has attempted to hide the toll of soldiers lost, but Ukraine’s military puts the number of Russian deaths at 400, with 300 others wounded. Moscow did confirm a “significant loss of life”, signalling a grievous blow to the already exhausted Russian troops. According to reports on the Telegram channel of General SVR, Putin lost more than one thousand FSB secret service officers in the war in Ukraine, bringing Russia’s death toll to 145,000 in ten months.   Thought to be a Kremlin insider, he suggests the losses in Putin’s regular army alone amount to 104,186, with another 33,902  in private military companies – like Wagner Group – which are fighting for the Kremlin in the war. Losses in the Russian National Guard amount to 5,941, it is claimed.  A viral video showed a family watching Putin’s speech before eating a traditional New Year’s meal in their home. A woman on the balcony began screaming in the video as the attack began on the Russian barracks. Another video showed a Ukrainian soldier in a holiday hat as a missile launches behind him – at the same time as the strike on Makiivka. Russian pro-war sources say two HIMARS missile strikes hit the barracks in Makiivka, killing Russian commanders alongside their soldiers. Pro-Putin Ukrainian blogger Anatoly Shariy posted: “There are SEVERAL HUNDRED killed in Makiivka.” Grey Zone, a news outlet linked to Putin’s ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private army, admitted about 50 to 70 people had died, and the building was destroyed. They added: “Of course, we are not talking about 500-to-600 dead, this is the enemy’s propaganda.  “But still there were more than 100 people in the building, approximately 120-to-150. Even our most positive channels evasively refer to losses as ‘significant, large and heavy’.”  The dead Russian troops are thought to be from the Saratov region who had been stationed in Makiivka, in Moscow-occupied Donetsk region.  More footage appears to show the body of a woman near a roadside in Makiivka. Ukrainian source Obozrevatel said that HIMARS had destroyed “hundreds of invaders”. Obozrevatel said: “The number of dead is still unknown: according to various estimates, there were from 150 to 700 occupiers at the base during the attack, most of whom were allegedly mobilised from Saratov. “According to the Strategic Committee of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, 400 Russian soldiers were killed, and about 300 were wounded.”  Russia is searching for “traitors” who revealed the location of their barracks, according to various reports. Pro-war Russian sources angrily criticised commanders for gathering so many soldiers in one place, making them a clear target for attack. Another video shows mobilised Russian men leaving Saratov in November. These new recruits are reported to have been among those in the stricken barracks.   Christmas music and decorations on the Ukrainian missile launch video are because Russians mark the festive season as midnight strikes at New Year, rather than on 25 December.  East2WestFirst responders attempted to find any Russian survivors from the barracks[/caption] East2WestThe barracks was in ruins after the missile attack[/caption] East2WestA Ukrainian soldier poses as the missile launches[/caption] East2WestThe attack happened at the same time Putin was addressing the nation for New Year’s[/caption] East2WestBodies of Russian soldiers were strewn on the streets on New Year’s day[/caption] East2WestA terrified resident of Makiivka screamed as the attack took place on New Year’s eve[/caption]