Russia leveled accusations against Ukraine for carrying out a "terrorist attack" on civilians in Belgorod. The incident involved the use of contentious cluster munitions in strikes that resulted in the death of at least 21 individuals and left dozens more injured.

Russian authorities reported that the casualties comprised a minimum of three children, with 17 children among the 110 individuals injured.

Moscow asserted that this attack would face repercussions and "not go unpunished."

During an urgent session convened at the UN Security Council at Russia's request, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia asserted that Kiev had targeted a sports center, an ice rink, and a university.

"In order to increase the number of casualties of the terrorist attack they used cluster munitions," he said.

"(It was a) deliberate, indiscriminate attack against a civilian target," he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are scheduled to deliver New Year's Eve speeches on Sunday, marking nearly two years since the war between the two nations began in February.

The Ukrainians are now committing terrorism. Rather than aim their artillery at Russian forces on the battlefield, whom they’re losing badly against, they’ve decided to target the city of Belgorod with cluster munitions, killing over 20 people including children and injuring… pic.twitter.com/YC5WeKo2eG

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) December 31, 2023

Situated approximately 30 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, Belgorod has faced repeated strikes that Moscow attributes to indiscriminate shelling by Kiev's forces. Unverified footage depicted a street covered in debris and smoke rising from burned-out cars in the city's center.

'A deliberate act of terrorism'

Russia's Foreign Ministry stressed that the United States and Britain were "encouraging the Kiev regime to engage in terrorist actions."

In the same context, Nebenzia revealed that Moscow had received information about British and American consultants orchestrating the attacks on Russia's Belgorod.

“We have reports that the UK and American consultants took direct part in organizing this terrorist attack and they regularly encourage the Ukrainian government to carry out bloody crimes,” Nebenzia said during the UN Security Council.

“There is a possibility for these crimes also born by EU countries, which directly and irresponsibly continue to supply the Ukrainian ruling elite with weapons,” Nebenzia added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Nebenzia expressed astonishment at the absence of any response from the UN Secretary-General following the lethal attacks on Belgorod.

"I’d like to once again emphasize we are not looking at a strike on a military target," Nebenzia said. "This is a deliberate act of terrorism that was targeting civilians," he added.

It is worth noting that the UK has recently announced it would send hundreds more air-defense missiles to Kiev, after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared, "We must continue to stand with Ukraine -- for as long as it takes."

This comes as the United Nations emphasized the need for de-escalation and cessation of attacks on civilians in the aftermath of recent incidents in both Ukraine and Russia, as stated by UN Assistant Secretary-General Mohamed Khaled Khiari during a UN Security Council session.

"We reiterate the Secretary-General's appeals for de-escalation of tensions and for an end to attacks on civilians, population centers, residential areas, civilian and energy infrastructure," Khiari said on Saturday. "We unequivocally condemn all attacks on cities, towns and villages, in Ukraine and in the Russian Federation."

Nebenzia: Czech UN envoy declines UNSC meeting due to 'Cowardice'

Furthermore, 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."
 
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky announced on Saturday that the Czech permanent representative to the United Nations will not participate in the Russia-requested UN Security Council meeting discussing Ukraine's deadly strike on Belgorod. Earlier, Russian Deputy Envoy to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy insisted on the involvement of the Czech envoy in the UNSC meeting to provide clarifications regarding arms supplies to Kiev. 

The Russian Defense Ministry asserted that the Ukrainian military employed cluster munitions and Czech-made Vampire missiles, among other weaponry, in the assault.

On his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Saturday, "Next year will be a time of many decisions -- global decisions. And Ukraine needs to be able to influence them to be able to achieve its goals."

"We will fight for our influence, for justice for Ukraine, and I am grateful to all the leaders who help, who have been with us since February 24th and will be with us in 2024," he claimed.

Read more: Putin: Ukraine war a 'great tragedy' resulting from Western desires