Missile Strike Kills Six in Russian City near Ukraine Border
In a devastating missile strike on the Russian city of Belgorod near the Ukraine border, six people, including a child, were killed, and 18 others were injured. This attack is the latest in a series of long-range missile and rocket exchanges in Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine.
The attack occurred after Russia fired two dozen cruise and ballistic missiles at various regions in Ukraine. The midnight strike in Ukraine’s northeast resulted in the death of five people in an apartment building. The missile strike in Belgorod targeted a shopping center and a school stadium, causing numerous casualties.
Belgorod, a city with a population of around 340,000 people, has been a frequent target of Ukrainian fire, leaving its residents constantly on edge. The recent attacks have shattered President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to assure Russians that life in the country is proceeding normally. Over the New Year holiday weekend, dozens of people were killed and injured in an attack on Belgorod.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, five people lost their lives, and ten others were wounded in a nighttime attack on the village of Velykyi Burluk in the Kharkiv border region. Following this, missiles targeted the capital city of Kyiv, the southern Zaporizhzhia region, and Lviv in western Ukraine, among other places. The Ukrainian air force managed to intercept 13 out of the 26 missiles fired across the country.
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has mostly devolved into trench and artillery warfare, resulting in destruction but little change along the 930-mile front line. However, Thursday’s missile salvos stood out due to the wide geographic spread of targets and the diverse range of missiles employed by Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has made improving the country’s air defense systems a priority. He is set to sign a bilateral security agreement in France on Friday as part of his efforts to secure continued military support from Western nations. Zelenskyy will also hold talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin and deliver a speech at the annual Munich Security Conference, where he will meet with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and other European leaders.
The Russian missiles used in the recent attacks included Iskander ballistic missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles, guided aviation missiles, and adapted S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. In response, Ukraine has also targeted Russian territory beyond the front line. A Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil depot in Russia’s Kursk region, although no casualties were reported.
Following the missile strikes, neighboring Poland’s army has taken measures to ensure the safety of its airspace. They have activated Polish and allied aircraft, which may result in increased noise levels, particularly in the southeastern part of the country.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with both sides engaging in long-range attacks and retaliatory measures. The devastating missile strike on Belgorod serves as a grim reminder of the toll this war is taking on innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. As international leaders convene to discuss the situation, the hope for a peaceful resolution remains uncertain.