Russia's Foreign Ministry has denounced what it describes as Ukraine's "neo-Nazi essence" following a deadly missile strike launched by Ukrainian forces on the city of Belgorod, situated approximately 25 miles (40 km) from the border.
Russia's Foreign Ministry has denounced what it describes as Ukraine's "neo-Nazi essence" following a deadly missile strike launched by Ukrainian forces on the city of Belgorod, situated approximately 25 miles (40 km) from the border.
The attack, which occurred earlier on Thursday, resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals, including a one-year-old baby, and left 17 others injured, including four children. The strike also caused significant damage to residential and commercial properties, with 128 apartments, 15 homes, an industrial facility, four shops, and over 30 cars affected, according to Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
In a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry, officials emphasized that the attack carried out by Kiev's forces held "absolutely no military meaning." They further asserted that the aggression demonstrated by Ukrainian forces, particularly in targeting civilians, reveals the "barbaric" nature of their tactics.
The ministry's statement went on to criticize what it perceives as the complicity of Western powers, particularly the United States, in providing lethal weaponry to Ukraine. It condemned the "criminal role of the 'collective West'" in supplying arms that are ultimately used against innocent civilians.
The incident near the Ukrainian border has escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine, exacerbating the already strained relations between the two neighboring countries. The attack underscores the ongoing conflict in the region and the human cost of geopolitical rivalries.