Casualties climb to 24 following Ukraine attack on Belgorod

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
31 Dec 2023 19:27

The Russian Health Ministry reported 93 individuals, including 13 children, were hospitalized, with 25 critically injured patients, including six children, transferred to medical facilities in Moscow.

In this photo taken from video released by Russia Emergency Situations Ministry telegram channel on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, Firefighters extinguish burning cars after shelling in Belgorod, Russia (AP)

The casualty count resulting from Ukraine's terror operation on the western Russian city of Belgorod has increased to 24, as confirmed by the regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, on Sunday, which now includes an additional child.

"As of 8:30 a.m. [5:30 GMT], 24 people were killed in the city of Belgorod as a result of massive shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces. Forensic experts determined that another child was killed. Another injured person died in a hospital without regaining consciousness. Groups of federal and regional doctors fought for the patient's life to the last minute," Gladkov said on Telegram.

On the same day, the Russian Health Ministry reported that 93 individuals, including 13 children, were transported to hospitals in the region.

"Ninety-three people, including 13 children, have been hospitalized in inpatient facilities in the Belgorod Region in varying degrees of severity. The nature of the injuries of all victims: mine explosions. Fifteen people received outpatient medical care," the ministry said in a statement, adding that all those injured received all necessary assistance.

The statement further indicated that 25 patients in critical condition, including six children, were relocated to federal medical complexes and clinics in Moscow.

On another note, an emergency services spokesperson informed Sputnik that a medical special plane carrying the injured had reached Moscow.

"A special medical plane with the injured arrived at Zhukovsky airport near Moscow at 14:10," the spokesperson said, adding that the injured were accompanied by a team of doctors during the flight.

Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko stated that two patients still cannot be transported.

"We have left two specialists to continue monitoring and observing non-transportable patients. And we have left specialists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, who are working to help the families of the victims," Murashko told the Rossiya 24 broadcaster.

Residents of Belgorod organized a spontaneous commemoration in memory of those killed as a result of yesterday's bombing by Ukrainian terrorists

According to the latest data, 24 people were killed in the attack and more than 100 were injured

🇺🇦 Ukraine is a TERRORIST state‼️ pic.twitter.com/CAG86uU0d8
— Gabe (@GabeZZOZZ) December 31, 2023

Ukraine's bitter acknowledgment of defeat

On Saturday afternoon, Ukraine attacked the central part of Belgorod.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported the use of Czech-made Vampire rockets and missiles containing internationally prohibited cluster munitions in the attack.

While Russian air defense systems successfully intercepted the majority of the projectiles, some managed to bypass resulting in the fall of several projectiles and cluster fragments onto Belgorod.

The Russian Defense Ministry asserted that Ukraine orchestrated the attack to divert attention from its battlefield defeats and provoke Russian forces into similar actions.

The Belgorod Region government building, medical college, and Belgorod Hotel were damaged in the attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been briefed, and a medical team, led by the health ministry's head, along with rescuers from the emergency situations ministry, has been dispatched to provide assistance.

In response to the attack, Russia has called for a UN Security Council meeting on Belgorod, demanding the participation of the Czech envoy to explain the arms supplies to Kiev.

During the meeting, the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia claimed that the Czech permanent representative to the UN declined involvement in a UN Security Council meeting discussing the attacks on Russia's Belgorod due to "cowardice".

"Where is Czech representative, the country whose missiles killed civilians in Belgorod?" Nebenzia said. "We tried to invite today the Czech PR to take part in this meeting but he declined out of cowardice."