The Russian military reported on Wednesday shooting down 12 Ukrainian missiles over the southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine. This occurred as Kyiv’s forces aimed to undermine Russian President Vladimir Putin’s assertion that life in Russia continues normally despite the ongoing 22-month war.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Governor of Belgorod, described the situation in the regional capital as tense. In a Telegram message, Gladkov mentioned that the city experienced two rounds of shelling on Wednesday morning.
He affirmed, “The air defence systems were effective,” and assured that additional information regarding potential damage would be provided after inspecting the area later in the day. It’s worth noting that Wednesday was observed as a national holiday in Russia.
The Russian border with Ukraine has faced repeated attacks in recent days. Throughout the war, Ukrainian artillery fire, rockets, mortar shells, and drones launched from dense forests have sporadically targeted Russian border villages, posing challenges in detection.
Recently, with missiles and drones striking Ukrainian cities, Kyiv’s forces have directed their efforts towards the regional capital of Belgorod, situated approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Belgorod, with a population of about 340,000 people, stands as the largest Russian city in close proximity to the Ukrainian border. It can be accessed by relatively uncomplicated and mobile weapons, including multiple rocket launchers.
Over the weekend, more than two dozen people lost their lives in the shelling of Belgorod, marking one of the deadliest attacks on Russian soil since Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Russian authorities reported a death toll of 26, including five children, following a new barrage of rockets on Tuesday.
Targeting Belgorod and disrupting normal city life serves as a dramatic demonstration by Ukraine, showcasing its ability to retaliate against Russia. This is particularly significant considering that, in military terms, Russia surpasses Kyiv’s forces in both numbers and firepower.
On Monday, Putin strongly condemned the attacks on Belgorod, stating, “They aim to intimidate us and sow uncertainty within our country.” He pledged to escalate retaliatory strikes in response. The Russian government has sought to counter the effectiveness of these strikes by labelling Ukrainians as “terrorists” who recklessly target residential areas, while asserting that the Russian military strictly targets depots, arms factories, and other military facilities. Ukrainian officials consistently refrain from taking responsibility for strikes on Russian territory.
