The Ukrainian army launched a series of rockets and UAVs into Russian territory, responding to Moscow's unprecedented large-scale attack.
The Ukrainian military posted a video on social media on December 29 showing the moment a rocket hit a building in the Belgorod region of western Russia, causing a huge explosion. This is considered Ukraine's response after Russia launched the largest attack on the country since the beginning of the war.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that Ukraine had launched an attack through its territory using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). "Combat air defense systems shot down 13 MLRS rockets flying over the Belgorod region," the agency said.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said a Ukrainian rocket hit a house in the region, killing one person and injuring four, including a child. Ten houses, two cars and the water supply system in the city of Belgorod were also damaged in the attack.
Building in Belgorod, Russia, hit by rocket on December 29. Video: Ukrainian Army
Russian air defenses in Bryansk region intercepted six unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Ukraine on the same day. Governor Alexander Bogomaz said there were no casualties or damage after the attack.
Ukraine said earlier that Russia had launched 158 missiles and drones at a series of key cities in the country, in Moscow's biggest attack since the conflict between the two countries broke out. Kiev claimed to have intercepted 87 missiles and 27 drones, but the attack still killed 31 people and injured more than 130.
The Russian Defense Ministry later confirmed that its troops had carried out 50 attacks and one "large-scale" raid on military targets in Ukraine over the past week, but did not provide details. "All targets were hit," the agency said.
Ukrainian forces fire rockets in the Donbass region, eastern Ukraine on June 7. Photo: AFP
During an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UN), representatives from the UK, France and the US condemned the Russian attack. Through a spokesman, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also criticized Moscow's attack, saying that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure was "unacceptable" and needed to "end immediately."
Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia insisted that his country had only attacked Ukraine's military infrastructure, adding that Kiev's anti-aircraft missiles had caused civilian casualties.
“Some of the missiles missed their targets or veered off course and fell on residential buildings and other civilian locations,” Nebenzia said. “If it had not been for the Ukrainian air defense system, there would have been no civilian casualties.”
Russia has recently stepped up attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure using UAVs and long-range missiles, similar to the tactics Moscow used last winter.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat said on December 19 that Moscow had enough suicide drones to sustain daily attacks. Western officials have also repeatedly warned that Russia has stockpiled large quantities of long-range weapons to launch new attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the winter, forcing the country to live in “darkness and cold.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky said in November that Ukraine's air defense network is "stronger than last year," but admitted that the country's military is not yet capable of defending its entire territory and needs to continue to receive additional equipment to be able to defend itself.
President Joe Biden on December 29 called on the US Congress to increase aid to Ukraine to help Kiev deal with similar attacks on the same day. The US State Department announced on December 27 that it would provide an additional $250 million to Ukraine in the final aid package of the year, including various types of weapons and ammunition, but the US Congress has yet to approve the $61 billion aid package for Kiev.
Location Belgorod province. Graphics: FT
Pham Giang (According to Reuters, RIA Novosti, RT )
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