Russia vowed on Saturday to respond to the attack on Belgorod, adjacent to the border with Ukraine, for which Moscow holds Kiev responsible, stressing that it will not go “without punishment.” During an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York, Moscow on Saturday accused Ukraine of committing a “deliberate act of terrorism” and of using cluster munitions to strike Belgorod.
Published on: 12/31/2023 – 07:32 Last updated: 12/31/2023 – 07:33
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On Saturday, Moscow vowed to respond Attack on Belgorod, bordering Ukraine Which resulted in the deaths of at least 21 people, for which Moscow holds Ukraine responsible, stressing that it will not go “without punishment.”
Moscow held the Ukrainian army responsible for carrying out an attack on Belgorod that killed 21 people, including two children, and injured at least 111 others. While an initial toll reported that 14 people were killed and 108 injured.
This attack came the day after violent strikes launched by Russia on Ukraine, killing 40 people and wounding dozens, according to the Ukrainian authorities.
During an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York, Moscow on Saturday accused Ukraine of committing a “deliberate act of terrorism” and of using cluster munitions to strike Belgorod.
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia said, “It is a blind and deliberate attack against a civilian target,” accusing Kiev of targeting a sports center, an ice skating rink, and a university.
He continued, “The members of the Security Council have an opportunity to do their duty and evaluate what happened objectively.”
According to pictures posted on the Internet, cars were on fire, buildings with shattered windows, and columns of black smoke rising.
Ukraine regularly carries out strikes in Russia, especially in areas adjacent to its borders, but the death toll is often much lower.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the bloody attack on the city of Belgorod “will not go unpunished.”
The Russian Ministry confirmed that Russian defenses were able to intercept two missiles and “most” of the missiles fired at the city, which prevented a “much larger” number of casualties. However, it explained that several shells fell on Belgorod, in addition to missile debris.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin “was informed of the Ukrainian army’s attack on residential areas in Belgorod.”
Kyiv has not yet responded to the Russian accusations.
In an interview with Russian news agencies, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova placed responsibility for the attack on the United Kingdom and the United States, which “encourage the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist acts.”
“Harsh response”
Deputy Speaker of the State Duma, Pyotr Tolstoy, expected a “harsh” response, considering this attack as evidence that negotiations with Ukraine “cannot” be held.
In the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, the villages of Kister and Portchevo were subjected to Ukrainian bombing, which led to the death of “a child born in 2014,” according to the region’s governor, Alexander Bogomaz.
One person was also killed and ten others were injured in strikes on Donetsk, the city located in eastern Ukraine and under Moscow’s control, according to what was announced by the official responsible for the Russian occupation of the region, Denis Pushilin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky are scheduled to deliver New Year’s speeches on Sunday.
Bodies recovered
Ukraine continued to count its deaths on Saturday after violent strikes launched by Russia on Friday on a number of its cities, including the capital, Kiev.
A series of strikes targeted buildings, a maternity ward, a shopping center, and industrial and military infrastructure, and were considered among the most violent since the beginning of the war nearly two years ago.
“At the moment, unfortunately, we have 39 dead” across the country, Zelensky said on Saturday, adding that about 100 people were injured. Later, another victim was found under rubble in Kiev, bringing the death toll to 40.
In Kiev alone, at least 17 people were killed on Friday, according to local authorities.
The head of the capital’s military administration, Sergei Popko, said in the evening that search operations were continuing, adding, “This is a great tragedy for our city. January 1 will be a day of mourning in Kiev.”
Bodies continued to be recovered from under the rubble on Saturday in Kiev, where the number of bloody attacks has decreased in recent months.
Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Saturday that this attack was “the most devastating among civilians” and declared a “day of mourning” on January 1.
Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat confirmed that it was “the largest missile attack” in the conflict, apart from the first days of the war.
New strikes targeted Ukrainian territory on Saturday, killing three people in the Kherson, Zaporizhya and Chernigov regions, according to various local authorities.
20 people were injured in an attack that occurred in Kharkiv, according to the Public Prosecutor, who indicated that a hotel, a nursery, buildings and restaurants were damaged.
Among the wounded were two teenagers and a British journalist who is the security advisor to a group of German journalists, according to the same source.
On Friday, the Russian strikes sparked strong international condemnations, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations spoke of “horrific attacks.”
These attacks end a difficult year for Ukraine, marked by the failure of its summer counterattack and the strengthening of the capabilities of Moscow’s forces.
This news increases Kiev’s anxiety, while Western aid coming from Europe as well as from the United States has begun to become scarce, with the increasing risk of stopping the flow of ammunition and money.
On Saturday, Zelensky sent a new appeal to his allies, stressing that arming Ukraine is “a means to protect lives.”
“Every appearance of Russian terrorism proves that we cannot wait to provide assistance to those who are fighting,” he added.
France 24/AFP
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2023-12-31 06:32:20
