Putin called the attacks on Belgorod a terrorist act

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the shelling of Belgorod, which occurred on December 30, a terrorist attack. He stated this during a visit to the Vishnevsky hospital in the Moscow region, where Russian military personnel are treated.

“What happened in Belgorod is, of course, a terrorist act. Because under the cover of two rockets, they fired from multiple-launch systems, MLRS. You, as military people, know what an MLRS is. This is an indiscriminate weapon that hits the squares. And this they hit the center of the city with their weapons. Just a targeted attack on the civilian population,” Putin said.

He once again stated that Russia strikes only at military targets and threatened to increase strikes on Ukraine.

“They want to intimidate us and create insecurity within the country. We will intensify the strikes. No crime against the civilian population will go unpunished,” Putin added.

• On December 29, the territory of Ukraine was subjected to one of the largest Russian attacks during the entire war. About 40 people died, dozens were injured. On the eve of the meeting of the UN Security Council, the Russian representative Vasyl Nebenzya stated that there would be no casualties among civilians in Ukraine during the Russian shelling if it were not for the actions of the Ukrainian air defense.
• On December 30, the Armed Forces shelled the center of Belgorod – it was the largest shelling of the city during the entire war between Russia and Ukraine. As a result, 24 people died, 108 were injured.
• On the same day, Russian troops shelled Kharkiv. As a result of the shelling, 20 people were injured. Among the injured is a British citizen, a security adviser who accompanied a group of German journalists.