Dead in attack on Belgorod
Moscow threatens Kiev with “punishment”
December 30, 2023, 6:56 p.m
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An air raid on the Russian border region of Belgorod kills several people, including children. Russia, which is waging a devastating war of aggression against Ukraine, speaks of “terror” that does not go “unpunished” and is calling for a special session of the UN Security Council.
According to Russian sources, at least 18 people were killed in a suspected Ukrainian rocket attack on the Russian border region of Belgorod. There are also said to be several children among the dead. In addition, 111 people, including other children, were injured by the shelling, Russia’s civil defense agency said on Telegram.
The information could not initially be independently verified. There was initially no official reaction from Kiev.
Meanwhile, Russia, which has been waging a devastating war of aggression against Ukraine for almost two years with numerous deaths and massive destruction, has threatened consequences. The Russian Defense Ministry announced via Telegram that the Ukrainian attack would not go “unpunished.” At the same time, it was said that “most” of the rockets fired by Ukraine at Belgorod had been intercepted.
Russia blames the EU and the British
Russian Foreign Office spokeswoman Maria Sakharova also spoke up. “The terrorist attack on Belgorod will be the subject of proceedings in the UN Security Council,” she said. At the same time, she accused the European Union and Great Britain of complicity in the attack. “Behind the terrorist attack is Great Britain, which, in coordination with the USA, is inciting the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist actions because it has recognized that the counteroffensive by the Ukrainian armed forces has failed,” Zakharova was further quoted by the Russian state agency Tass.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Tass that President Vladimir Putin had been “informed about the attack by the Ukrainian armed forces on residential areas in Belgorod.” According to the Interfax agency, Peskov also told journalists that Putin had instructed Health Minister Mikhail Murashko to fly with a team to Belgorod.
In Belgorod, people were now asked to hide in shelters. At the same time, there were complaints from residents that several air raid shelters were apparently cordoned off and therefore inaccessible. Videos also circulated on social networks showing numerous columns of smoke, burning cars and damaged house facades. In some recordings, the sounds of explosions and people screaming could also be heard.
At least 39 dead in Ukraine
According to media reports, this was the heaviest shelling of Belgorod since Russia invaded Ukraine almost two years ago. Belgorod is located in the border region and is therefore repeatedly affected by fighting. However, the damage and number of victims are generally disproportionate to those in Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia.
It was only on Friday night that Russia launched its heaviest attack to date on the neighboring country. According to Ukrainian information, at least 39 people were killed.