A missile strike on the Russian city of Belgorod near the Ukrainian border on Thursday resulted in the deaths of six people including a child and the injuries of eighteen others. It marked the most recent instance of long-range missile and rocket fire in Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Russia launched a barrage of cruise and ballistic missiles, targeting various regions in Ukraine. Tragically, the assault began with a midnight strike in the northeast, claiming the lives of five individuals in an apartment building, as confirmed by authorities, as per to Fox News.
Deadly Missile Strike in Belgorod
A missile strike resulted in the loss of several lives, including that of a young child named Valentina. Eighteen other individuals were hospitalized, with six of them in serious condition. The Governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, expressed his sincere condolences to the victims and their families, recognizing the enormous pain that cannot be reduced by only speaking.
Gladkov, updating the public through Telegram, shared that another four individuals, including two children, would receive treatment in Moscow. The injured, both adults and children, faced varying degrees of trauma, necessitating immediate medical attention. The governor's updates on the casualties painted a grim picture, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
Belgorod, which has been subject to frequent attacks since Russia's military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022, finds itself at the forefront of geopolitical tensions. The city's proximity to the border has made it a target, with Russian authorities reporting significant civilian casualties in the past, particularly in a major attack at the end of December.
A team of medical specialists from federal centers was promptly dispatched by the Russian health ministry to Belgorod to address the urgent healthcare needs resulting from the missile strike. The worldwide community is waiting for further information on the tragedy while the city struggles with the repercussions, according to Reuters.
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Russia Accuses Kyiv of 'Terrorism' in Missile Attack
In a statement on Telegram, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the foreign ministry, condemned the events as an act of terrorism and said that Russia intends to raise the issue with the UN Security Council. There has been no immediate response from Kyiv, which leaves unanswered questions about the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The Russian defence ministry claimed that air defence systems successfully intercepted 14 Ukrainian rockets over the Belgorod region. However, Reuters could not independently verify this report. The ministry identified the rockets used in the attack as Czech-made Vampire rockets, the same type allegedly employed in previous deadly strikes on Belgorod in December.
The governor of the neighboring Kursk region, Roman Starovoit, strongly criticized the strike, demonstrating the deliberate targeting of civilian areas such as a shopping mall, outdoor sports facility, and residential spaces. Starovoit's comments emphasize the deliberate harm caused to innocent people, intensifying tensions in an already volatile area.
The visuals captured by Russian media show a scene of destruction, with shattered windows in stores, blown-out windows in apartment complexes, and emergency workers rushing to help the injured at outdoor sports facilities. The missile attack on Belgorod shows its terrible impact on innocent lives caught in the crossfire of geopolitical issues and adds a new chapter to the continuing war, ABC News reported.
