A devastating event shook the Russian city of Belgorod near the Ukrainian border, as a multi-storey apartment block collapsed following a missile strike. Russian officials confirmed at least seven fatalities and 15 injuries in the aftermath of the incident.
The collapse, triggered by what officials stated was a Ukrainian missile strike, resulted in a section of the building, spanning from the tenth to the first floor, giving way.
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov shared footage from the scene, revealing the extensive damage caused by the collapse. The incident occurred amidst what Gladkov described as “massive shelling” by Ukrainian armed forces in the region.
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The exact weaponry employed in the attack remains unclear, raising questions about potential external supply sources.
Eyewitnesses on-site reported a significant emergency response presence, including numerous ambulances and fire engines. Describing the scene, one witness recounted the collapse of an entire section of the 10-storey building and noted the ongoing efforts of firefighters to navigate through the rubble in search of survivors.
The Russian defence ministry disclosed that its air defence forces intercepted two Soviet-era conventional ballistic missiles launched by Ukrainian forces over the Belgorod region.
Both Russia and Ukraine assert their avoidance of civilian targets, yet civilian casualties persist, reflecting the grim toll of the ongoing conflict.
The origins of the conflict trace back to 2014, following the Maidan Revolution in Ukraine, leading to the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the eruption of hostilities in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatist forces and Ukrainian armed forces. The region witnessed a staggering death toll, with approximately 14,000 lives lost by the end of 2021, as per UN figures.
Recent escalations have seen Russian forces engage in a new front in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, adjacent to the beleaguered Belgorod region.
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President Vladimir Putin hinted at Moscow’s potential establishment of a buffer zone within Ukrainian territory in response to repeated attacks on Belgorod.
As this incident unfolds, there has been no immediate comment from Ukrainian authorities. Verification of battlefield reports remains challenging for news agencies amidst the ongoing conflict, leaving many details uncertain in the wake of the devastating events in Belgorod.
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