Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov stated in a Telegram post that the recent strike by Ukrainian forces on Belgorod is the most severe since the conflict between Moscow and Kiev began. In an update, Governor Gladkov mentioned that the death toll has risen to 21, with 111 people injured, as reported by the Emergencies Ministry.
The extent of material damage caused by the strike is still being evaluated, and additional public servants from nearby towns have been mobilized to expedite this process.
Governor Gladkov further revealed that over 100 vehicles were damaged, many of which were completely destroyed or burned. Numerous commercial establishments, including shops and malls, also suffered damage.
Additionally, the city’s gas and water supply systems were impacted. In response to the incident, the regional authorities have decided to cancel all public gatherings and festivities in the bordering territories and the city of Belgorod itself, which is approximately 40km away from the border. Governor Gladkov has informed President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin about the situation and its aftermath.
The use of cluster munitions in the attack on the city has been confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry.
These munitions consist of numerous small submunitions that can be dispersed over a wide area through an initial explosion, which can then trigger additional explosions, resulting in a significant number of smaller blasts.
Due to the serious threat they pose to civilians, more than 110 nations prohibited the use of cluster munitions under a UN convention in 2008.
The ministry stated that the Ukrainian military armed the missiles of its Olkha multiple rocket launcher with cluster bomb warheads before launching them towards Belgorod. Although Russian air defense forces were able to intercept most of the projectiles, some still managed to hit the city.
The ministry emphasized that if all of the projectiles had reached their intended target, the consequences would have been significantly more severe. In an update provided by the Russian Emergencies Ministry, the death toll was revised to 14.
