Kyiv has dismissed a Russian claim that 600 Ukrainian soldiers were killed by its forces in a “massive strike missile strike”.

According to the Kremlin, an attack on Kramatorsk resulted in a temporary barracks being damaged with “over 700 Ukrainian military personnel” in dormitory 28, and 600 Ukrainian military personnel (dorm 47).

Russia claims it has killed 600 Ukrainian soldiers – Ukraine war most recent updates

Serhii Cherevatyi spokesperson for the Ukrainian Joint Forces stated that “the Russian information is false”.

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At 11.30 pm yesterday, seven Russian missiles were fired at Kramatorsk. It did not have any effect on the Ukrainian army.

Continue reading Russia’s claim about 600 deaths in an airstrike is almost certain a gross untruth

According to a Finnish journalist, it is unlikely that the strike at Kramatorsk was a direct hit.

Antii Kuronen stated that she was there and found it strange that the building wasn’t insulated. The locals also didn’t see any ambulances in the morning.

“I heard the blasts last night when this target also was hit. A large crater (possibly S-300), is visible in front of the school. No direct hit. The school was not empty according to military contacts who visited it in the morning.

Reuters reporters visited both dormitories, and discovered that neither had been hit directly by missiles nor seriously damaged.

According to the agency, there were no signs that soldiers had lived there. There was also no evidence of any bodies or blood traces.

Reuters photos from Kramatorsk show a large crater right in front of a building without windows and shattered shopfronts.

Sky News’ international correspondent Alex Rossi in Ukraine says that the Ukrainian military believes this latest Kremlin claim is Russian propaganda.

“It doesn’t really matter if it’s true or false, as long as it’s not misleading the Russians.”

“It’s insidious. It can claw into people’s minds.

“I believe the fact remains though that all of the evidence, and what we have managed glean out from the area where it’s claimed to have occurred… reports coming now through on Social Media suggest that this attack didn’t really take place in the manner that it was shaped by Russian Ministry of Defence.”

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the strike is a revenge for a fatal Ukrainian attack on Makiivka’s Makiivka building on New Year’s Eve.

It was one of the most significant losses to Russia in wartime. Some blamed soldiers stationed at the building for using their mobile phones.

It is unclear how many people died in the attack. Moscow claims that there were dozens of victims, while Ukraine claims that it was 400.

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Officials in eastern Ukraine have confirmed that at least two people were killed in fighting. One died in strikes on Bakhmut and eight others were hurt in the Donetsk region. Another was killed in Merefa, a Kharkiv region village.

Even though nighttime temperatures dropped to -17C (1F), Serhiy Haidai, Luhansk governor, stated that there was heavy fighting in this region. He also said that Russian forces had sent their most combat-ready units as well as heavy equipment to the city Kreminna they occupy. This meant that the Russians were gradually retreating.