Ukraine's Missile Attack on Russia's Belgorod 'Terrorist Act,' Putin Says
17:49 01.01.2024 (Updated: 17:54 01.01.2024)
© Sputnik . Anton Vergun / Go to the mediabankBelgorod resident stands near makeshift memorial to civilians killed in Saturday's Ukrainian missile and MLRS attack on the southwestern Russian city of 340,000. December 31, 2023.
© Sputnik . Anton Vergun
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine shelled the central part of Belgorod on Saturday afternoon. The Russian Defense Ministry said Czech-made Vampire rockets and missiles with cluster munitions were fired at the city.
Ukraine’s missile attack on the Russian city of Belgorod is a terrorist act, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.
Air defense systems intercepted most of the targets, but several projectiles and cluster fragments from downed missiles fell on Belgorod. At least 24 people died and 108 people got injured.
"What recently happened in Belgorod is, of course, a terrorist act. Why? Because they did it under the guise of two Vilkha missiles, in my opinion, what they did — they fired from multiple launch rocket systems, which is, as you, servicepeople, know, a weapon to attack squares, and they used it to attack the city center where people walk ahead of the New Year," Putin said at a meeting with servicepeople taking part in Russia’s military operation.
Russian forces are equipped and trained to use their weapons at a level unmatched by any other army in the world, Putin said. At the same time, they could have but did not retaliate against the Belgorod attack as they target only military facilities in Ukraine, Putin stressed.
"You might have noticed that literally the next day [after Ukraine’s attack on Belgorod] such strikes were carried out. They are being carried out today and will be tomorrow," Putin said.
The Russian president added that the country’s military is ready to use such weapons that no other country in the world has.
The situation on the battlefield is changing, Putin said.
"You may have noticed that they [Ukraine] are losing it ... When missiles are fired it is hard to say whether they are losing it or not. But in general, you surely know that the situation on the battlefield is changing, notwithstanding the 'civilized' West's struggle against us, " the Russian leader said.
At the same time, Putin said that the situation on the battlefield was "satisfactory," adding that the Russian authorities refrain from giving higher marks.