Russia's top military blogger questions official death toll in Makiivka attack

Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov, also kwn as WarGonzo, has called into question official death toll from an attack on Russian barracks in eastern Ukraine, which Moscow's Ministry of Defense said resulted in deaths of 63 servicemen on Monday, as per a report from CNN news.

In a video posted on his Telegram channel, Pegov claimed that sources on ground at site of attack, kwn as Makiivka trdy, were still digging through rubble and that number of victims could be higher. Ukrainian military sources have claimed that attack resulted in around 400 Russian soldiers killed and 300 more wounded, though exact number is still being clarified.

Makiivka attack presumed to be one of deadliest incidents of war for Russia

If Ukrainian military's estimates are accurate, Makiivka attack would represent one of deadliest single incidents of war for Russian forces. attack has drawn significant attention in Russia, with President Vladimir Putin personally awarding Pegov "Order of Cour" at Kremlin just weeks ago.

Pegov is t only one to challenge official Russian account of attack. Igor Girkin, a former official in Russia-backed Donetsk People's Republic, has also suggested that number of dead and wounded could be in hundreds, with many still missing. Girkin has a controversial past, having been found guilty by a Dutch court of mass murder for his involvement in downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014. attack on Russian barracks has heightened tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with both sides trading accusations over incident.