At midnight on January 1, 2023, Ukrainian artillery utilizing the M142 HIMARS system destroyed the building of Vocational School No. 19 in Makiivka, which was being used as barracks for approximately 700 Russian soldiers and as an ammunition depot. Ukrainian sources reported around 400 soldiers killed and 300 wounded, while the Russian Ministry of Defense initially confirmed 63 casualties, later revising the number to 89, including Deputy Commander Lieutenant Colonel Bachurin. According to Russian sources, excessive mobile phone activity in one location drew the attention of Ukrainian intelligence, enabling a precise strike. The explosion of ammunition and five tons of diesel fuel led to the building's complete destruction. The incident sparked criticism of the Russian military command, particularly for storing ammunition near soldiers' quarters.

A few hours after the Ukrainian strike, Russia launched an air raid using kamikaze drones, all of which were intercepted by Ukrainian air defense. However, one person was reported injured in Kyiv as a result of these actions.

Over the previous 24 hours, Russian forces conducted 51 airstrikes, including 45 using Shahed 136 drones, and 55 rocket artillery attacks, including one targeting a children's hospital in Kherson. Ukrainian aviation responded with 13 airstrikes on concentrations of Russian troops, while artillery targeted five similar positions. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that on December 31, 2022, in the Zaporizhzhia region, including areas such as Polohy, Berdyansk, and Tokmak, Ukrainian shelling caused over 175 Russian casualties, destroyed 12 military vehicles, and eliminated an ammunition depot.

On January 2, the British Ministry of Defense reported that Russian attacks on Bakhmut in the Donbas reached their peak in December, after which their intensity declined. Mass infantry assaults, primarily led by Wagner Group mercenaries in mid-December, failed due to insufficient support from other Russian formations. In response to intensified Russian activities, Ukrainian command deployed significant reinforcements to defend the city. According to the British MOD, Russian offensive operations in the area were limited to platoon or squad-level engagements, indicating a lack of capacity for large-scale coordinated actions.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group, admitted that his forces were unable to break through Ukrainian defenses in Bakhmut but blamed the Russian Ministry of Defense for the situation. In response to growing criticism from military circles and the public, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a series of instructions for Russian agencies and officials aimed at calming public discontent by improving supply chains and ensuring timely payment of benefits to military personnel.

Illustrative photo. Generated by AI