War-torn Ukraine claimed it has killed around 400 Russian soldiers in a missile attack on the occupied Donetsk region.
The missile targeted a building in the city of Makiivka, where Russian forces were thought to be stationed. The figure has not been verified. Pro-Russian authorities acknowledged casualties, but did not confirm the figures being reported, reports BBC.
A number of Russian commentators and bloggers acknowledged the attack - but suggested the numbers were lower than claimed.
Daniil Bezsonov, a senior Russian-backed official in the occupied parts of Donetsk, said the missile struck Makiivka two minutes after midnight on New Year's Day.
"A massive blow was dealt to the vocational school from American MLRS Himars," he said, referring to US-provided missiles.
There were dead and wounded, the exact number is still unknown, he added.
Vladimir Solovyov, a Russian presenter, wrote on Telegram "losses were significant... but not even close" to 400.
According to the Ukrainian military, 300 people were wounded in addition to the estimated 400 killed.
The Russian-installed administration said at least 25 rockets were fired at the region overnight on New Year's Eve.
Hours after the strike in Makiivka, Kyiv came under fire. A drone and missile attack targeted critical infrastructure, the Ukrainian capital's regional governor Oleksiy Kuleba said.
Russia has been targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure for several months, destroying power stations and plunging millions into darkness during the country's freezing ongoing winter.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
