UN calls for de-escalation following Ukraine attack in Belgorod
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Speaking during a UN Security Council session, a UN official reiterated the Secretary-General's calls for reducing tensions and putting an end to assaults on civilian targets and infrastructure in both Ukraine and Russia.
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In this photograph taken from a video released by the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia on Saturday, December 30, 2023, firefighters are seen extinguishing vehicles on fire after an attack in Belgorod, Russia.
The United Nations emphasizes 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."
Attack on civilians
Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukraine executed an indiscriminate strike on the Russian city of Belgorod, utilizing cluster-mounted Vilkha missiles and shells from a Czech-made RM-70 Vampire multiple-launch rocket system.
"Today, the Kiev regime attempted an indiscriminate combined strike on the city of Belgorod with two Vilkha missiles in a prohibited cluster configuration, as well as Czech-made Vampire MLRS rockets," the ministry said.
Despite most of the shells and missiles being intercepted, some managed to hit the city, resulting in the deaths of 12 adults and two children, with 108 others wounded.
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Bitter acknowledgment of defeat
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.
"We have requested a meeting of the Security Council on Belgorod for 15.00 New York time (23.00 Moscow time) today, December 30. We also demanded the presence of the Czech Republic's Permanent Representative, so that he could explain himself for his country's supply of ammunition, which is killing civilians," Polyanskiy said.
