World
Ukrainian Missile Strikes Russian City, Prompting a Change in the War
By Matt De Vlieger · December 30, 2023
In short
- Ukrainian missile attack on Belgorod kills at least 20, marking the deadliest assault on Russian soil in the two-year war.
- Russia's Defense Ministry claims the strike was indiscriminate; Ukrainian government remains silent.
- Belgorod attack seen as Ukraine's response to a massive Russian air assault, reflecting President Zelensky's determination.
- Russia vows retaliation, launching strikes on Kharkiv, escalating tensions and cross-border dynamics in the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine has launched a missile strike on the Russian city of Belgorod, resulting in at least 20 casualties and over 110 injuries, according to Russian officials. The assault, occurring on Saturday, marks the deadliest single attack on Russian soil since the commencement of the war nearly two years ago.
Russia’s Defense Ministry accuses Ukraine of targeting Belgorod, approximately 25 miles north of the Ukrainian border, with two missiles and multiple rockets.
The ministry characterized the strike as “indiscriminate,” stating that most rockets were intercepted, but some debris fell on the city. The Ukrainian government has not officially responded to the allegations, and independent verification of the Russian claims remains elusive.
The Belgorod attack is Ukraine’s retaliatory response to a massive and deadly Russian air assault against its territory a day earlier.
President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted in an overnight address that Ukraine would persist in pushing the war closer to Russia’s borders, declaring a steadfast commitment to bringing the conflict to Moscow’s doorstep.
In a swift and ominous response, Russian authorities vowed that the attack on Belgorod “would not go unpunished,” signaling an intent to retaliate. Subsequently, Ukrainian officials reported several Russian strikes on Kharkiv, a Ukrainian city located approximately 40 miles from Belgorod, underscoring the dangerous cross-border dynamics now at play.
The back-and-forth assaults highlight the determination of both Moscow and Kyiv to escalate the conflict, despite Ukraine’s challenges in securing Western funding, growing war fatigue in Russia, and staggering casualties on both sides.
Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, affirmed on social media that there would be consequences for all crimes, while Russia’s Defense Ministry reiterated its commitment to responding to the attack on Belgorod.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with Russia announcing plans to convene an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss the attack. The developments have altered the course of the war, thrusting it across the Russian border and raising concerns about further escalation in the already protracted and devastating conflict.