Moscow indicated that the offensive was in retaliation for the one that hit Belgoroda Russian town about thirty kilometers from the Ukrainian border, in which 24 people died and 108 were injured, according to the latest official report of what constitutes the deadliest attack against civilians in Russia since the conflict began in February 2022.
The Kremlin insists that Ukraine is responsible, although authorities have not claimed responsibility for the moment, and took the issue to the UN Security Council after accusing the United Kingdom and United States of “inciting” the Ukrainian government.
The attack on Belgorod, In turn, it occurred a day after several Ukrainian cities were targeted by bombing, in what kyiv described as the most massive missile attack since the beginning of the invasion, not counting the first days of the war.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, assured that 39 people had died throughout the country, in a balance that was not updated in the last 24 hours. However, the governor of Dnipropetrovsk province, Sergei Lyssakdeclared that one of the injured died in the hospital, which brings the death toll in that region alone to 7.
The Russian Defense Ministry today described the offensive on Belgorod and assured that “in response, the armed forces attacked decision-making centers and military installations” in Kharkov.
“With a high-precision missile attack against the former Kharkov Palace hotel complex, representatives of the Gur (General Directorate of Intelligence) and the Ukrainian Army who directly participated in the planning and execution of the terrorist attack in Belgorod were killed,” said the text.
According to the Kremlin, that hotel contained “up to 200 foreign mercenaries who planned to participate in terrorist raids on Russian territory near the border with Ukraine.”
In response to this version, the Ukrainian Intelligence spokesman, Andriy Yusovdenied that there were injured officers and assured that Russia’s statements were “another delusional fantasy of the terrorist regime waging a genocidal war,” according to local media Pravda.
“The aggressor has once again attacked civilian, non-military targets. This is a common practice of the Russian Federation and its terrorist missile attacks, which target civilian infrastructure,” he added.
In tune, Oleg Sinegoubov, governor of Kharkov province, where the city of the same name is located, said that the rockets hit a hotel, as well as residential buildings, clinics and hospitals, injuring 28 people. Among them were two teenagers and a British man, a security adviser to a team of German journalists, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The mayor of the city of Kharkov, Igor Terekhovstated that the drone attacks had also damaged “cafes, residential buildings and offices”, without reporting casualties, reported the AFP news agency.
The Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 21 of 49 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched into its territory overnight and targeting the south and east of the country.
What did Putin say in his year-end speech?
On the other hand, the Russian president, Vladimir Putinaffirmed today in his end-of-year speech that Russia will “never” back down and paid tribute to the soldiers fighting in Ukraine, whom he described as “heroes,” in an end-of-year message addressed to his compatriots.
“We have shown on multiple occasions that we can solve the most difficult tasks and that we will never back down, because no force can divide us,” Putin declared in a televised message.
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FACE. President Vladimir Putin spoke to the nation, and his exhausted face did not go unnoticed.
Although Putin did not speak directly about the conflict in Ukraine, he made several allusions, for example, when paying tribute to the soldiers, whom he described as “heroes.”
“I would like to address our military. To all those who are in a combat position, at the forefront of the fight for truth and justice. You are our heroes,” said the Kremlin leader, quoted by the news agency. Russian news Sputnik.
Meanwhile, facing the beginning of 2024, Zelensky stressed today that the country has “sufficient potential” to achieve its objectives against Russia “regardless of the political changes” that may occur in third countries.
“We will continue to fight to achieve influence and justice for Ukraine. I am very grateful to all those leaders who are helping us and who have been with us since February 24 and who will be with us in 2024,” he indicated, quoted by the Europa Press news agency.
“Whatever happens in other countries, whatever the political changes or moods, we must have enough potential to do our thing and achieve our objectives,” he said before venturing that next year will be one of “global decisions.” “.
Source: Ambito
