Russia raids Kharkov in response to Belgorod attack

Russian troops raided Ukrainian military headquarters and facilities in Kharkov, in response to the shelling of Belgorod that killed 24 people.

"In response to that terrorist act, the Russian military struck the decision-making center and military facilities in the city of Kharkov," the Russian Defense Ministry said today, referring to the December 30 shelling of the city of Belgorod, the capital of the province of the same name near the Ukrainian border, which killed 24 people and injured more than 100.

Russia has accused Ukrainian forces of being behind the attack on Belgorod. Kommersant newspaper earlier quoted a source close to the Russian Investigative Committee as saying that Ukraine attacked Belgorod with a multiple rocket launcher from Kharkov.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, a precision missile strike on a hotel in Kharkiv killed members of the Main Directorate of Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (GUR). Moscow described this group as the one that planned and carried out the attack on Belgorod. There were also about 200 "foreign mercenaries" preparing to join the attack on Russian territory.

Ukrainian emergency services are deployed at an apartment building damaged by a Russian missile attack in Kiev on December 13. Photo: Reuters

Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on December 31 that in the first wave of strikes last night, six Russian missiles hit residential areas, hotels and medical facilities in the city, injuring at least 28 people. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, the capital of the province of the same name, said Russia continued to launch several more UAV strikes around midnight, causing fires in several locations in the city.

The Ukrainian Air Force announced on Telegram that it had shot down 21 of the 49 UAVs launched by Russia overnight. Most of them were aimed at the front line, in the areas of Kharkov, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia. The announcement did not mention the six missiles in Kharkov.

Location of Belgorod and Kharkov regions. Graphics: RYV

Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of launching rocket, missile and drone attacks on its territory, including civilian infrastructure and military facilities.

Russia has recently stepped up its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure with missiles and UAVs. On December 29, Russia attacked Ukraine with a record number of missiles and UAVs, killing 39 people and injuring more than 130. Ukrainian media, citing informed sources, said the country's military targeted a military target in Belgorod in retaliation for Russia's record-breaking attack.

Nhu Tam (According to RIA Novosti, Reuters )

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