Huge Death Toll After US-Supplied Himars Leveled Russian Barracks In Donetsk, Possibly Hundreds Killed

Via ZeroHedge

Russian forces have just suffered what may be their single biggest loss of the war in an attack, after a Ukrainian strike killed multiple dozens, or possibly hundreds, of newly mobilized troops in the east of the country. Moscow is now pointing to a US role in the devastating attack.

“Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday that Ukrainian forces used a U.S.-supplied Himars rocket system to destroy a facility used as a base for mobilized troops in the city of Makiivka,” The Wall Street Journal reports of the attack in Russian-occupied Donbas.

The leveled Russian troop facilities, described as a training school for conscripts, in Makiivka. RIA Novosti/Sputnik via AP

The defense ministry confirmed that 63 Russian troops died in the blast, saying that a wave of HIMARS rockets delivering “high-explosive warheads” struck the facility that housed the troops.

A statement by top Russian commanders carried in state-run TASS reads: “The Kiev regime delivered a strike firing six projectiles from the US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher on a Russian unit near Makeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). The attack left 63 Russian service members killed.”

Though only reveled for the first time Monday, the strike reportedly took place soon after midnight on Sunday, New Year’s Day. Some Russian sources are suggesting an ammunition depot was next to the targeted facility, which likely resulted in a deadlier, expanded blast.

The Ukrainian side is meanwhile claiming the true numbers among the Russian dead is much higher, with the Ukrainian military asserting that some 400 were killed and other 300 wounded – though Kiev didn’t directly take responsibility in the immediate aftermath.

Blasts at an oil depot after missiles struck the facility in Russian-held Makiivka, via AP.

Western media, including CNN and Reuters, have acknowledged being unable to independently verify the casualty numbers, however, some notable pro-Russian separatist officials have suggested it is more that the 63 dead officially cited by the Kremlin:

Igor Girkin, a former Federal Security Service officer who helped Russia annex the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014 and then organize pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, said on Monday that “the number of dead and wounded runs into many hundreds.”

That same official is one among several Russian military commentators who lashed out at top commanders for the apparent lack of protection for the hundreds of personnel staying in a small area. Russian sources say at least two of the inbound missiles among the six fired by the Ukrainians were shot down by anti-air defenses.

Girkin said on Telegram: “This is not the only such [extremely dense] deployment of personnel and equipment in the destruction zone of HIMARS missiles,” also in reference to reports of ammunition stored dangerously close.

Other pundits are saying troops’ use of cellular phones or other possible open source communications could have tipped off the Ukrainians as to the presence and location of the base, given the potential for intercepted signals…

Additionally, Reuters references the following source from the Russian side:

One Russian pro-war military blogger known as Rybar, who has more than one million subscribers on the Telegram messaging app, said more than 100 people had been wounded in the strike and that rubble was still being cleared.

Rybar said there had been about 600 people in the building, and that ammunition had been stored in the same facility.

And The Telegraph points out this could surpass the prior single most disastrous event from early on in the invasion:

Ukraine estimated the death toll at “about 400”, with some pro-Russian separatists in the region agreeing “hundreds” had died. The Kremlin, in a rare admission, said 63 men had been killed – far outweighing the official death toll from the sinking of the flagship Moskva.

Beyond the issue of the disputed death toll, another question is whether the Ukrainians had targeting assistance from US intelligence.

Interestingly, Ukraine’s defense ministry on the same day as the attack posted footage of what appears to be Himars system launching a strike in the dark.

In the past months, mainstream US press has increasingly acknowledged that the Ukrainians are receiving direct battlefield targeting help, based on the admissions of anonymous Pentagon and US intelligence officials.

However, there’s currently no confirmation or clear evidence that US-supplied HIMARS were indeed used, as the Russians allege. But the fact that the facility struck was significantly behind the front lines may point to a longer range weapon being used, such as has been supplied by Western powers. Ukraine also seems to now be openly boasting of its US-supplied capabilities in the wake of the mass casualty attack on Makiivka.

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15 Comments
Bob P
Bob P
January 2, 2023 2:46 pm

There was very likely US involvement, if only for targeting. How long will Putin put up with US meddling before he strikes Americans? Wouldn’t want to be in Ukraine over the next few days . . . or ever for that matter. Lots of missiles incoming no doubt.

Anonymous
Anonymous
  Bob P
January 2, 2023 4:08 pm

I would say it had to be all US involvement.

Herc
Herc
  Anonymous
January 2, 2023 6:07 pm

Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face…. I’m curious how we respond when Russians eventually respond

Visayas Outpost
Visayas Outpost
  Bob P
January 2, 2023 9:56 pm

There was just a report a few days ago about how Himars required US onsite support for training, for some period of weeks after deployment, and the fear being that they would use it during that period and trigger a Russian reaction. As if it were not obvious enough they are poking the Bear as hard as f’ing possible.

goat
goat
  Visayas Outpost
January 3, 2023 1:52 am

Just think if “we” screw the Ukrainians (pretty much a done deal no matter what “we” do). We will not only have the Russians after us, but the Ukrainians as well. Hell, they might even join forces once they both figure out whos been screwing them is the same.

Anonymous
Anonymous
January 2, 2023 3:03 pm

So why the fuck is Russia not destroying each of these emplacements immediately after they fire?

The Russians have the technology to track and calculate the trajectory of the incoming shells, (how their air defense systems work) so they know where they are fired from. They have high altitude surveillance drones which can confirm location in seconds. Why is there not a missile on the firing station within minutes? Where are the super-missiles we hear so much about?

Something does not add up here.

ramAustralia
ramAustralia
  Anonymous
January 2, 2023 5:57 pm

They do destroy the emplacement after it fires, but it still sent off a salvo of missiles before it was destroyed. An expensive way of deploying HIMARS and rather tough on the crews. I expect the Russian retaliation will be severe.

Zulu Foxtrot Golf
Zulu Foxtrot Golf
  Anonymous
January 3, 2023 9:19 am

Himars and MLRS shoot and scoot. They can dump their rockets and be gone in less than thirty seconds. Counter-battery fires rarely make that hit under good conditions against artillery. Rockets are even harder to counter fire due to velocities and increased ranges.

Russian counter-battery is good but it aint that good. On-Station CAS with missiles is about the only decent chance they would have of successful counter to Himars.

Russia had best start using their recon assests on the ground and in the air to pre-plan target packages against Himars.

MLRS, ATACMS and HIMARS were always one of the best deep strike assets we had as fire support. Not to mention they are fucken wicked effective at destruction missions.

Vlad better shit or get off the pot because those small hemorrhoids are going to morph into ass cancer if he doesnt kick this into high gear.

ZFG, out.

P.S. it is all fun and games until Steel Rain is called in.

TampaRed
TampaRed
January 2, 2023 3:42 pm

if i were moscow i would put a bunch of sf guys & captured ukraine (murcian) artillery in the part of ukraine that borders the part of poland where we have the 101st stationed —
a few volleys into there might cool the congressional ardor 4 more war —

TampaRed
TampaRed
January 2, 2023 3:48 pm

this is not really the thread 4 it but a republican nebraska congressman is saying that if the reps. can’t get enough rep votes to elect kevin mccarthy as speaker,they might have to reach across the aisle & get dem. support 4 a more moderate speaker —
get yer lube ready & practice clenching while bending over —

Note from Nevada
Note from Nevada
January 2, 2023 3:56 pm

2023 is headed in the direction I thought it would…that was quick…..

goat
goat
January 2, 2023 5:10 pm

Wonder how far up this pushes the doomsday clock?

Anthony Aaron
Anthony Aaron
January 2, 2023 6:20 pm

‘ … another question is whether the Ukrainians had targeting assistance from US intelligence.’

Given how the US has been providing our ‘friend and ally’ with this same sort of intelligence for decades, it’s impossible to believe that we’re not doing the same thing for ‘BIG israel, too …

Arizona Bay
Arizona Bay
January 2, 2023 7:07 pm

Vlad doesn’t have to strike US troops in Ukraine. US troops are spread all over the world surrounded by people who don’t want them there. It wouldn’t be too difficult for some of those black market Ukranian arms to show up in those countries.

rhs jr
rhs jr
  Arizona Bay
January 2, 2023 7:29 pm

I expect sabotage here to increase.