Ukrainian shelling kills one, injures 8 in Belgorod

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Dec 2022 17:46
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Nine explosions were reportedly heard above the city of Belgorod at 13:00 local time (10:00 GMT).

Munition dump from the shelling. via Twitter (@LinevichD)

Belgorod's regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Sunday that one person died and eight were wounded as a result of shelling in Belgorod.

The governor told reporters that nine explosions were heard above the city of Belgorod at 13:00 local time (10:00 GMT).

He confirmed that air defense systems were activated in the city and the region.

"One person died... Eight people were injured, seven are now in the hospital, one of them is in intensive care. All necessary medical care is provided. Another victim refused hospitalization and was sent for outpatient treatment," Gladkov wrote on Telegram, adding that the shelling had damaged a poultry farm in the region.

Despite the constant offensives by Ukrainian forces, especially in light of its attacks on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) attacks, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board still passed a resolution calling on Russia to withdraw its forces from the ZNPP.

On December 17, Vladimir Rogov, a senior official in the Zaporozhye regional government, revealed on Saturday that a protective dome is now being mounted over the nuclear waste storage at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) to shield it from shell fragments.

"A protective dome is being mounted at the ZNPP over the storage facility for spent nuclear waste," Rogov wrote on Telegram.

The dome is designed to protect against fragments of shells and improvised explosive devices carried by drones, according to the official.

In the same context, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based international organizations, considered that "there are chances of reaching an agreement" about a protection zone around the ZNPP, but it would be too early to say that the deal is close at hand.

"Last Monday, a meeting between the IAEA director-general and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal was held in Paris on Monday. As far as we know, this topic was discussed in detail during these talks. Therefore, the process continues and there are chances of reaching an agreement," according to Ulyanov.