At least seven people were killed and 17 injured in a devastating missile strike on a Russian apartment block in Belgorod, Russia. The missile, launched by Ukraine and shot down by Russia, caused a whole section of the building to collapse, trapping many residents under the rubble.
The attack, described by Russia’s defense ministry as a “terrorist attack on residential areas,” involved multiple missiles, including Tochka ballistic missiles and Adler and RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket systems. The aftermath of the strike was captured on camera, showing the dramatic collapse of the building and the frantic efforts of emergency services to rescue survivors.
Both Ukraine and Russia have denied targeting civilians in the ongoing conflict, but casualties among non-combatants continue to mount on both sides. The attack on Belgorod is just the latest escalation in the conflict, which has seen Russian forces advancing on multiple fronts in Ukraine.
In response to the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested the possibility of establishing a buffer zone inside Ukrainian territory to protect Russian civilians. The conflict, which began in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, has claimed thousands of lives and displaced many more.
As the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate, the international community is closely monitoring the escalating violence and its impact on civilians caught in the crossfire.