Belgorod evacuates children after alleged Ukraine strike
Following an alleged attack on the Russian city of Belgorod, authorities are evacuating children as tensions escalate along the Ukrainian border.
While Kyiv has remained silent on the incident, Moscow claims air defence systems repelled ten aerial targets and blames Ukraine for the attack.
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported three injured in Belgorod: "Last night, the city was again bombed. People suffered. Three are in intensive care, stable but serious. We'll visit affected areas and begin reconstruction soon."
The evacuation, the largest from a Russian city since the invasion began, involves transferring children to school camps in other regions for three weeks. This latest development comes amidst Russia's own large-scale missile attack on Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the ongoing assault: "The terrorist must pay for all the damage caused. Rescue teams are still working in three regions after Russian bombings. This morning, Kharkiv, Zaporozhye, Krivoi Rog, and Khmelnytskyi faced massive attacks. 45 injured, four dead."
Air raid alerts echoed throughout Ukraine as Russia launched its own offensive. Reports indicate indiscriminate strikes on residential and industrial areas, with cruise and ballistic missiles targeting various regions.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin vowed to "do everything" to stop Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod. Russia also claims its air defence neutralised ten "RM-70 Vampir" missiles on Monday night.
The war's toll continues to mount. The US estimates Russia's losses at around 315,000 soldiers killed or wounded, while Ukraine contemplates a new wave of mobilisation.
With tensions escalating and civilians caught in the crossfire, the immediate focus remains on the safety of citizens and potential de-escalation efforts.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
