Ukrainian forces launched an attack today on the Russian city of Belgorod using cluster munitions which impacted the city center at about 3 p.m. local time (GMT+3). Russia called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting, which took place today beginning at 4 p.m., to raise the issue of deliberate Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilians.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the Ukraine munitions were launched using heavy multiple launch rocket systems, including the Olkha rocket launcher (similar to the Russian BM-30 Smerch) and the Czech-supplied Vampire launcher. The ministry said, “Air defense systems intercepted Olkha missiles and the majority of Vampire MLRS projectiles. Several projectiles and cluster submunitions hit Belgorod. As a result, 12 adults and 2 children died, 108 people were injured.”
“The Kiev regime by indiscriminately striking large areas and committing this offense is trying to divert attention from the defeats on the front lines and to provoke us into taking similar actions,” the ministry said further vowing that “This crime will not go unpunished.”
According to Belgorod region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, the attack devastated a large area of the center of the city. “As of now, we have data about damage to more than 100 passenger cars. ... Damage was done to 22 multi-apartment buildings, a great number of commercial facilities, shopping malls, and shops. Damage is being estimated,” he wrote on his Telegram channel, reported TASS.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, charged American, British and European Union involvement in the attack. “British and American consultants were directly involved in organizing this terrorist attack, regularly inciting the Ukrainian authorities to commit brutal crimes. The countries of the European Union, which persistently and irresponsibly continue to supply the Ukrainian ruling clique with weapons, are also responsible for this,” it said.
