Russia attacks Kharkiv in response to Belgorod attack

NOn Saturday, Russia promised that the attack on Belgorod, which killed 24 people in that city close to the Ukrainian border, would not go unpunished.

Moscow accuses Kyiv of the attack, but Ukraine has not yet responded to the accusation.

According to the latest report, released this morning by the region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the attack left 24 people dead and 108 people injured.

Although Kyiv carries out frequent attacks on Russian territory, particularly using drones, this was the deadliest attack on civilians in Russia since the start of the conflict in February 2022.

“In response to this terrorist act, Russian armed forces attacked decision-making centers and military installations” in Kharkiv, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The governor of the Ukrainian region, Oleg Sinegoubov, stated, however, that the attack hit a hotel, residential buildings and clinics or hospitals, leaving 28 injured.

Among the victims, there are two teenagers and a British citizen, security advisor to a team of German journalists, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Russia acknowledged having hit an “old hotel complex”, the Kharkiv Palace, but assured that there were members of the military intelligence services allegedly involved in the attack on Belgorod, as well as “foreign mercenaries”.

Moscow has always denied attacking civilian targets in Ukraine.

The military offensive launched on February 24, 2022 by Russia in Ukraine caused, according to the most recent UN data, the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War (1939-1945).

The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by most of the international community, which has responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing Russia from political and economic sanctions.

Read Also: Toll of attack on Belgorod rises to 24 dead, including 4 children