A rocket launcher shoots missiles during tactical and special exercises with scouts of the Guards Tank Army of the Western Military District at the Golovenki training ground in the Moscow region, Russia, on January 28, 2022.
Russian Defence Ministry / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
- Ukrainian missiles hit the Russian border city of Belgorod, Russian officials said.
- Officials said at least three people have died.
- Additionally, they said several residential buildings were destroyed.
At least three people were killed after a Ukrainian missile attack in the Russian border city of Belgorod, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a Telegram post.
Gladkov blamed Ukraine for the attack that also damaged at least 11 apartment buildings and 39 private houses. Five of the buildings were destroyed, Gladkov said.
In a Telegram post, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Russia destroyed three missiles that were launched at Belgorod but fragments had hit residential buildings, and two missiles launched at the city of Kursk were also destroyed.
“I emphasize that this missile attack had been intentionally planned and was launched at civilian population of Russian cities,” Konashenkov said.
Ukraine has not yet commented on or claimed responsibility for the attack.
“The death of civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Belgorod are a direct act of aggression on the part of Ukraine and require the most severe – including a military – response,” Senior Russian lawmaker Andrei Klishas wrote on Telegram, CNBC reported.
Last week, a pair of Russian missiles hit a shopping mall in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, with as many as 1,000 civilians inside. At least 18 people were killed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia hit the shopping center because it was “angry” that Ukrainians were trying to carry on with normal lives.
Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Iryna Venediktova said Russia’s military has been “systematically shelling civilian infrastructure with the aim to scare people, to kill people, to bring terror to our cities and villages,” the Associated Press reported.
