Escalating Conflict: Ukrainian Strikes on Russian City of Belgorod Leave 20 Dead and 111 Injured
In a tragic turn of events, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has intensified as Ukrainian strikes targeted the Russian provincial capital of Belgorod on Saturday. The Russian authorities reported 20 people killed, including two children, and 111 injured in what they described as "indiscriminate" attacks, allegedly involving cluster bombs.
The Belgorod region, situated near the northern border of Ukraine, has been subject to shelling and drone attacks throughout the year, attributed by Russian authorities to actions from Ukraine. However, the recent strikes mark an unprecedented scale of aggression.
According to a source cited by Newspaper Kommersant, missiles fired from a multiple rocket launcher in Ukraine's Kharkiv region struck various locations in Belgorod, including a skating rink on Cathedral Square, a shopping center, and residential buildings. The Ukrainian authorities have not provided an official comment, but RBC-Ukraine, suggest that the strikes were in response to the significant Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities the day before.
The destruction of civilian infrastructure in Belgorod has been attributed to what Ukrainian sources describe as "unprofessional actions by Russian air defense, as well as deliberate and planned provocations." Russia, in turn, has vowed retaliation for what it labels a "crime."
The United Nations Security Council convened a meeting following the attack, with Russia's mission to the UN requesting international attention to the situation.
In the aftermath of the Belgorod strikes, Ukrainian authorities reported two Russian S-300 missiles hitting the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, injuring 21 people, including two boys aged 16 and 14. The missiles damaged a hotel, an apartment building, and other civilian infrastructure, further escalating the conflict.
The Defence Ministry of Russia accuses Ukraine of launching an "indiscriminate combined strike" on Belgorod, claiming the use of banned cluster configurations in the missiles. The ministry asserted that most rockets were intercepted, preventing greater casualties, although some fragments fell on the city.
Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov detailed the extensive damage in Belgorod, with 22 apartment buildings affected, along with numerous commercial properties, shopping centers, and shops. More than 100 cars were damaged, many of them burned out.
As the conflict continues to escalate, both sides remain entrenched in accusations and counter-accusations. The international community watches with growing concern as the toll on civilians and infrastructure rises, highlighting the urgent need for diplomatic intervention and a resolution to the crisis.
