Russia's defense ministry and local authorities claim 12 missiles and several drones had been launched by Ukraine in the early hours of Wednesday into Russia's southern region of Belgorod. The port city of Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea was targeted as well.
The Associated Press has reported Ukraine fired two Tochka-U missiles and seven rockets late Tuesday evening followed by six Tochka-U missiles and six Vilkha rockets on Wednesday. The Soviet-built Tochka-U missile system is equipped with a range of up to 120 kilometers (75 miles) and a warhead capable of carrying cluster munitions. The United States has provided Ukraine with numerous cluster munitions, but the Tochka-U and Vilkha possess the capability to deploy their own cluster munitions. .
The AP article also revealed that Belgorod has a population of roughly 340,000 and is the biggest Russian city near the border. This is the deadliest strike on Russian soil since the full-scale invasion.
The recent surge in aerial warfare follows one of Russia's deadliest missile attacks on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, which resulted in 30 confirmed fatalities just last week.
"Since 29 December 2023, Russia has increased the intensity of its long-range strike operations against Ukraine," and that Russian forces had committed a "significant proportion" of the stock of air-launched cruise missiles and ballistic missiles that they had built up in recent months to strikes on targets across Ukraine in the last week. said the U.K.'s Ministry of Defence said Wednesday. The ministry also posted an intelligence update on X, writing, "The recent strikes likely primarily targeted Ukraine's defense industry. This contrasts with its major attacks last winter which prioritized striking Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Ukraine's strike on the Russian border city of Belgorod has killed at least 25 people and injured more than 100 others, according to CNBC.
Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said the situation "continues to remain tense" in Belgorod. Reuters noted Gladkov saying that the extent of the damage would be assessed throughout the day. Russian President, Vladimir Putin has warned that these actions will not go unpunished. Putin went on to say, "They [Ukraine] want to intimidate us and create uncertainty within our country."
Ukraine has yet to confirm responsibility for the latest attacks.
