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.
Russian officials reported that the attack involved Tochka ballistic missiles and multiple launch rocket systems, resulting in a massive explosion that brought down at least 10 storeys of the building. As emergency services rushed to the scene, the roof collapsed, forcing people to flee for their lives amidst the chaos and destruction.
Both Ukraine and Russia have denied targeting civilians in the ongoing conflict, but this deadly attack has raised tensions even further between the two nations. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the strike as a “targeted attack on civilians” and accused Ukraine and its allies of criminal behavior.
Meanwhile, in the northeastern Kharkiv region, Russian forces have made significant advances, pushing Ukrainian troops out of several villages and threatening to open up a new front in the conflict. Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi acknowledged the difficult situation but vowed to defend their positions against the Russian invaders.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which began in 2014, has escalated in recent months, with thousands of lives lost and no end in sight to the violence and bloodshed. As the world watches in horror, the devastating toll of war continues to mount on both sides.