Seven killed in Ukraine missile attack on Belgorod
A Ukrainian missile has hit an apartment block in the Russian border city of Belgorod as cross-border attacks intensify.
At least seven people were killed and 17 injured, according to Russian officials, when at least 12 missiles rained down on the neighbourhood at around 11.40am local time.
Russian news agencies said others were still trapped under the rubble.
Footage showed a gaping hole in a large section of a 10-storey block after being hit by a missile, or fragments of a missile.
Part of the building then collapses, sending people rushing for cover as they are enveloped in a cloud of dust and debris.
Russia said that Ukraine used Tochka ballistic missiles, Adler and RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket systems in the attack.
“Fragments of one of the downed Tochka-U missiles damaged an apartment building in the city of Belgorod,” the Russian defence ministry said.
However, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region, believes the apartment was levelled in a direct hit.
Mr Gladkov said that 62 apartments in three blocks had been damaged.
“Ambulance teams are working at the scene of the emergency in full force,” he said.
The attack follows a raid by Russian infantry across the border north of Kharkiv, the first of its kind since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
On Sunday, more than 4,000 people were forced to flee from the area near Kharkiv since Russia launched its surprise offensive on Friday.
Ukrainian officials said civilians were being led to safety amid reports Russian troops “just walked in” to capture villages before fighting erupted.
In March, Vladimir Putin suggested that Moscow could try to establish a buffer zone inside Ukrainian territory.
