Ukrainian Strike on Belgorod: Five Dead, Dozens Injured

A Ukrainian attack on Belgorod, a southwestern Russian city, killed five people and injured 46. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that 37 of the injured were hospitalized. Russia condemned the attack and reiterated its 'special military operation' aims. Frequent attacks have targeted Belgorod in recent months.

Five people were killed and 46 injured in a Ukrainian attack on the southwestern Russian city of Belgorod late on Friday, according to the local governor. This incident marks the latest in a series of strikes by Ukraine on the city in recent months.

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that 37 of the injured, including seven children, were taken to hospitals in the city, which is located 40 km (25 miles) north of the Ukrainian border. A video posted on social media, purportedly showing the attack, depicted a car being blown up while moving along a road. Seconds later, another explosion occurred meters away. Reuters could not immediately verify the video's authenticity.

Russia's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack. 'Once again we call on all responsible governments and relevant international structures to strongly condemn this brutal terrorist attack and publicly distance themselves from the Kyiv regime and its Western curators who commit such crimes,' it stated on Saturday.

The ministry emphasized that Russia's 'special military operation' will continue until all its goals, including Ukraine's 'demilitarization and de-nazification,' are achieved. Russia's Investigation Committee announced on its Telegram channel that it had initiated a criminal case into the attack.

Authorities also reported that a woman was injured on Saturday during Ukrainian shelling of the border town of Shebekino in the Belgorod region. Belgorod has been a focal point of frequent Ukrainian attacks in recent months.

Both Ukraine and Russia have stated they do not deliberately target civilians in the conflict, which began when Russia deployed thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

(With inputs from agencies.)