Russia vows ‘punishment’ on Ukraine after strike on Belgorod kills 14

Russia has accused Ukraine of targeting the city of Belgorod with missiles and rockets on Saturday, killing at least 14 people and wounding dozens more.

Firefighters extinguish flames after shelling in Belgorod. Picture: AFP.

Russia has accused Ukraine of targeting the city of Belgorod with missiles and rockets on Saturday, killing at least 14 people and wounding dozens more in an attack Moscow warned would “not go unpunished”.

Belgorod lies about 30 kilometres from the border with Ukraine and has been repeatedly struck by what Moscow says is indiscriminate shelling by Kyiv’s forces.

Unverified footage showed debris strewn across the street and smoke billowing from burnt-out cars in the city’s centre, while a large blast can be heard in dashcam footage posted on social media.

AFP was not able to immediately verify the circumstances of the strike, one of the deadliest on Russian soil since Moscow launched hostilities against Ukraine in February 2022.

Two Vilkha missiles and Czech-made rockets were used in the attack, Russia said.

The UN Security Council will convene Saturday local time at Russia’s request to discuss the strike.

“Today … at 4.00pm New York (8.00am AEDT) time a meeting of the UN Security Council requested by Russia will take place in connection with the strikes on Belgorod,” Russia’s mission said on social media.

“According to updated information, 12 adults and two children were killed in Belgorod. Another 108 people, including 15 children, were injured,” Russia’s emergencies ministry said.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had been briefed on the incident, while the Russian defence ministry warned the strike would “not go unpunished”.

Russia’s foreign ministry, which has repeatedly railed against Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, accused the United States and Britain of “inciting the Kyiv regime to commit terrorist actions”.

Ukraine, which has been resisting Russian invasion for nearly two years and earlier this week came under a huge Russian missile and drone assault, has not officially commented on the strike against Belgorod.

AFP