Cars burned after Ukraine's raid on the Russian city of Belgorod on December 30 (Photo: Telegram).
In a statement on Telegram, the Russian Defense Ministry accused the "Kiev government" of deploying multiple rocket launcher systems to attack the city of Belgorod in the early morning of December 30.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, one of the artillery systems used by Ukraine is the Olkha, which is capable of launching 12 guided projectiles in a single salvo, simultaneously hitting targets at a maximum range of 70-130km depending on the type. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the Olkha rocket is equipped with a cluster warhead.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that another system used by Ukraine is the Czech-made RM-70 Vampire, a further upgrade of the Soviet BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that Russian air defense forces successfully intercepted most of the shells launched by Ukraine, but some hit the city of Belgorod.
"In case of a direct hit by Olkha artillery shells equipped with cluster munitions, the consequences will be much more serious," the Russian Defense Ministry added.
Cluster munitions have been banned by more than 110 countries under a UN convention since 2008 due to the danger they pose to civilians. Their use in densely populated areas can have devastating consequences.
The scene of the Ukrainian raid on the Belgorod region on December 30 (Photo: Baza).
Earlier, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said that the Ukrainian attack on Belgorod killed at least 14 people, including 2 children, and injured 108 others, including 15 children.
Videos shared showed debris strewn across the streets and smoke rising from burned cars in downtown Belgorod.
"As of now, we have data on the damage to more than 100 cars. Most of them were burned down. Damage occurred to 22 apartment buildings, many commercial establishments, shopping centers and shops. The damage continues to be recorded," said Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
The Russian military accused Ukraine of seeking to draw public attention away from its failures on the front line and provoke Moscow into carrying out retaliatory strikes of a similar nature.
"We emphasize that the Russian Armed Forces only attack military facilities and infrastructure directly related to military facilities. We will continue to act in this way. This crime (attacks on Belgorod) will certainly be punished," the Russian Defense Ministry warned.
Russia has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to be held late on December 30 following the Ukrainian attack on Belgorod. The Russian delegation also requested that the Czech permanent representative to the UN be present at the meeting to explain the supply of weapons to Ukraine used in the attack.
Location of Belgorod region of Russia (Photo: BBC).
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Britain of being behind Ukraine's attack on Belgorod.
"Britain is behind the attack, because it, in cooperation with the United States, is provoking the Kiev authorities to carry out offensive actions, understanding that the Ukrainian counterattack has failed. London, as the representative of the Ukrainian president's office recently stated, has forbidden the Kiev authorities to hold negotiations with the Russian side, to achieve victory on the battlefield," Ms. Zakharova said.
"The responsibility for the attack lies with the EU countries, which continue to supply weapons to Kiev, using cluster bombs against civilians," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman accused.
Belgorod is located about 30km from the border with Ukraine. This city has been repeatedly targeted by what Russia accuses Ukraine of carrying out.
Ukraine's attack on the Russian border city came just a day after Moscow launched its largest-ever airstrike on Ukraine. Some news sites said this could be Kiev's response to Russia.
Schools, maternity hospitals, shopping malls and apartment blocks were among the buildings hit.
Ukrainian air force spokesman Yury Ignat said it was a "record" number of missiles fired and the "largest-scale missile attack" since the beginning of the conflict, excluding the first days of continuous bombardment.
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