According to Russia's emergency ministry, Belgorod saw 14 fatalities—including two children—and over 100 injuries.

The Russian Ministry of Defense had already claimed to have shot down scores of missiles and drones launched from Ukraine.

The attacks come after 39 people were murdered in Russian strikes on Ukraine.

According to Kyiv, those strikes were Russia's most significant missile bombardment of Ukraine during the conflict.

According to Ukrainian media, which is quoting intelligence sources, over 70 drones were deployed in a string of strikes against Russia, targeting just military objectives. They also mentioned that a group of drones had successfully targeted an electrical plant in the Bryansk region that produced Russian military hardware, including anti-aircraft systems and long-range missiles.

The president of Russia has been informed about the attacks, according to his spokesperson.

13 missiles were destroyed during the course of the night, according to an early statement released on Saturday by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Later on, it reported that 32 drones had been shot down in the areas of Moscow, Bryansk, Oryol, and Kursk.

Meanwhile, the Bryansk region's governor announced that a kid born in 2014 had been killed and that two communities had been attacked.

In a different statement, the governor of Belgorod, which lies close by, said that the attacks had destroyed 55 residences, two commercial establishments, a soccer field, a recreation center, and a preschool.

Although Ukraine has not taken credit for these drone operations, Moscow has accused the country of being behind them on several occasions in recent months.

Following a heavy bombing across Ukraine by Russia that left 39 people dead and almost 160 injured, the strikes were carried out. Many cities were affected, including Kyiv, the nation's capital.

According to Vitali Klitchsko, the mayor of Kyiv, at least 16 people died in the city on Saturday, making it the worst for citizens of the capital thus far.

The UN Security Council met in emergency session on Friday night and unanimously denounced Russia's resumption of its widespread bombing campaign in Ukraine, declaring that the bombings must end "immediately".

The US, UK, and France, among other nations, claimed that attacking civilian infrastructure was against the international standards of war.

US ambassador to the UN John Kelley stated, "Rather than peace, Putin chose to mark this holiday season... with an unprecedented number of drone and missile attacks."

Russia asserted that damage to civilian buildings had been caused by Ukrainian air defenses.

 

News Sources: BBC