Attack on the Border City of Belgorod, Russia; At Least 122 Killed and Injured

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that shelling in the city of Belgorod, located on the border with Ukraine, resulted in the deaths of 14 people, including two children, and injured 108 others. According to the Associated Press, this attack occurred a day after an 18-hour air bombardment of Ukrainian cities by Russia, with Russian officials pointing the finger at Ukraine. Images shared on social media from Belgorod show burning cars and black smoke rising from damaged buildings, with sirens heard in the background. One of the attacks occurred near a public ice rink in the heart of Belgorod. The Associated Press reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the munitions used in this attack were Czech-made missiles and cluster munitions called 'Olkha.' The ministry did not provide further information, and the Associated Press was unable to verify Russia's claims. The Russian Ministry of Defense threatened, 'This crime will not go unpunished.' The Kremlin announced that President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the situation and has instructed Mikhail Murashko, the Russian Minister of Health, to visit Belgorod with a team of medical personnel and rescuers. Early Saturday, Russian officials reported the downing of 32 Ukrainian drones over Moscow, Bryansk, Oryol, and Kursk. They also stated that two Russian citizens were killed and four others injured due to border shelling. Cities in western Russia have faced continuous drone attacks in recent months, with officials blaming Ukraine for these incidents. Ukrainian officials have never accepted responsibility for attacks inside Russian territory and the Crimean Peninsula. However, airstrikes on Russia have followed heavy attacks on Ukrainian cities. Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian cities continued on Saturday, with the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reporting the downing of 10 Iranian-made 'Shahed' drones in the regions of Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, and Mykolaiv. Ukrainian officials reported that at least 31 civilians were killed and over 160 injured following Russian airstrikes on various parts of the country on Friday, January 8. Kyiv also stated that these attacks, unprecedented since the onset of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, targeted cities and infrastructure, including energy sectors across the country. Western officials and analysts have recently warned that Russia has been limiting cruise missile attacks for months to build up reserves for extensive winter assaults and to break Ukrainian morale. After Ukraine's counteroffensive did not achieve significant progress along the nearly 1,000-kilometer frontline between the two countries, battles along the front have largely been influenced by winter weather conditions. Continuous Russian airstrikes on Ukraine have also raised concerns among its neighbors. According to CNN, Poland, a NATO member, reported that a Russian missile appeared to have flown about 40 kilometers into its airspace before returning to Ukraine after three minutes. The Russian chargé d'affaires in Poland responded to the incident by stating that the Kremlin would not comment on the matter until Warsaw provides evidence of the airspace violation. The U.S. President's reaction to recent Russian attacks on Ukraine: Putin must be stopped. Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine resulted in 12 deaths and 60 injuries. Discussions between Zelensky and the Pope about peace in Ukraine involve over 80 countries participating in the peace process. The transfer of Ukrainian children from Russian-controlled areas to Belarus continues. The Ukrainian Air Force shot down 7 'Shahed' drones in three regions. Blinken: The U.S. will allocate up to $250 million in military aid to Ukraine. Russia attacked Ukraine with dozens of 'Shahed' drones, shelling a railway station in Kherson. Ukraine has begun investigations into allegations of 'executions' of three prisoners of war by Russian forces. An attack on a Russian ship suspected of carrying Iranian drones; the Ukrainian army: we used cruise missiles. Concerns are rising in Europe; Belarus states that the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons has been completed. Ukraine reported the downing of three Russian Su-34 fighter jets.