Ukraine has executed a series of deadly airstrikes in the last 24 hours, according to Russian officials. It is the latest ramping up of the war, as it hit targets in the south-west Russian cities of Belgorod and Bryansk.
Four people – of which three are children – are said to have died so far in the two cities, which are both relatively close to the Ukrainian border. Russia’s defence ministry said it shot down dozens of missiles and drones fired into its territory by Ukraine.
The strikes come just days after Russia killed 39 Ukrainians in one night during what was its biggest flurry of air strikes in the war so far. People died in various cities, including capital Kyiv, as well as Odesa, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Lviv – while plenty more also suffered damage. 160 people were left with injuries.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that nearly 120 Ukrainian villages and cities were attacked in Russia’s missile bombardment, which was itself thought to be in retaliation to the Ukrainian destruction of a major Russian warship in Russian-occupied Crimea.
Kyiv’s death toll from the night has now risen to 16 after seven more bodies were dragged from the rubble of a warehouse. Mayor Vitali Klitchsko said it was the deadliest attack for Kyiv civilians so far, and declared a day of mourning for the capital on Monday.
The governor of Russian Bryansk has said Ukraine’s most recent attack had killed a child born in 2014, as well as damaging 55 homes, two private businesses, a football ground, a leisure centre and a pre-school.
Meanwhile, Belgorod’s governor said two children and a man were killed, with several more injured, and that the water supply in the city was now disrupted.
Ukrainian media has reported more success from the strikes, saying they were targeting Russian military targets identified by Ukrainian intelligence. Reports say an electronic factory – used to make Russian military equipment like long-range missiles and anti-aircraft systems – was also hit.
Elsewhere, countries have condemned Russia for violating international rules of war. The US, UK and France said Russia had deliberately hit civilian infrastructure, and these types of attacks must stop “immediately”.
Russia said Ukrainian air defences were to blame for causing damage to civilian buildings.
