▲ Himas provided by the US to Ukraine


The Ukrainian army's successful attack on the Russian-occupied city of Makiivka, which suffered heavy casualties, was found to be due to the frequent use of mobile phones by Russian soldiers.



On the 2nd (local time), Russian state media TASS quoted an official from the judicial agency of the pro-Russian separatist government of the Donetsk People's Republic (DRR) as saying that a technical school in Makiyivka, a city in the Donetsk region used as a temporary garrison by Russian soldiers, was built in an American high-speed train. It was reported that it was the target of the attack of the Mobile Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).



The source explained, "According to the interim investigation, frequent use of mobile phones by soldiers was the cause of the Himas attack. The enemy used the intelligence system 'ECHELON' to obtain cell phone usage information and the location of subscribers."



ECHELON is an international communication interception and signal information collection and analysis network operated by the 'Five Eyes' countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.



The British Daily Telegraph also reported that cell phone data enabled Ukrainian forces to attack Russian barracks.



The newspaper said Ukrainian forces launched a deadly missile strike after locating Russian soldiers via mobile phone signals.



Earlier, it was reported that a US-made Hi-mas missile flew into a temporary Russian military base in Makiyivka, a city in the Donetsk region occupied by Russia, causing dozens to hundreds of casualties.



The Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement on the 2nd that "Ukraine attacked the temporary Russian military base in Makiivka with four missiles loaded with high-explosive warheads, killing 63 Korean soldiers."



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The Ministry of Defense said Ukrainian forces fired six Heimas missiles, but Russian air defenses intercepted two of them.



The attack took place between the 31st of last month and the 1st of this month, Russian media reported.



In a video released online, Makiiuka's vocational school was completely destroyed and turned into ashes.



Later, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also issued a statement confirming the attack, saying that "up to 10 various enemy vehicles were destroyed and damaged on December 31 in Makiyivka, Donetsk."



He added that information on enemy casualties was being ascertained.



Ukraine's Ministry of Defense claimed the death toll could reach up to 400.



A Russian military telegram channel called 'Ribari', which has a close relationship with the Russian government, has confirmed about 70 dead and 100 injured so far, and the number of deaths and injuries confirmed while clearing away building debris is increasing.



The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), an American daily, quoted Anastasia Kashevarova, a Russian government official, saying that those who stayed at the lodging were new recruits who were conscripted under the mobilization order, and that their origins were Sarah, which is about 800 km and 1,000 km southeast of Moscow, respectively. They said it was in the provinces of Top and Samara.



(Photo = Getty Image Korea)