THE president of Russia warned that his country’s forces will ramp up their attacks on Ukraine this year.
The Russian City of Belgorod suffered a powerful strike from Ukrainian forces, which occurred on December 30.
According to the Russian Health Ministry, on Sunday, 131 people, including 18 children, were injured in the strike in Belgorod. 24 people died, including four children.
On Monday, Belgorod Governor Viacheslav Gladkov said that the number of these deaths increased to 25, including five children.
The Russian Defence Ministry said that on Saturday the AFU had shelled the city with two Olkha-banned cluster munitions.
President Vladimir Putin called the incident a ‘terrorist attack’ on New Year’s Day at a military hospital in Moscow.
He made the remarks when a service men asked about the matter.
“What has just happened in Belgorod is undoubtedly a terrorist attack. why? Because under the cover of two missiles – ‘Olkha’, I think – what did they do?” according to Pres. Vladimir Putin, Russian Federation.
“They hit with multiple rocket launchers, MLRS. As military men, you know what an MLRS is. They are indiscriminate weapons that strike wide are and they used these weapons to hit right in the center of the city, where people were walking before New Year’s Day. Simply a strike, a targeted strike against the civilian population. Of course, it’s a terrorist attack, there’s no other way to call it.
“Should we respond in this way? Of course we could, we could hit squares in Kiev or any other city. Denis, there are children walking there, mothers with baby carriages. I understand, I myself feel like blowing up, but I want to ask you: Should we do this [as you asked about taking tougher measures against the adversary], should we attack the squares [in Ukrainian cities]?” Putin said.
Putin claimed that Ukraine’s efforts are aimed at destabilizing Russia and intimidating the country’s population.
But the Russian president stressed that his country will not retaliate in kind to Ukraine’s actions, despite being capable of doing so.
“Of course we can. we are capable of carpet-bombing Kyiv and any other [Ukrainian] City,” Putin added.
Instead, Putin said Russian Forces will continue targeting Ukrainian military assets and infrastructure, warning that the number of Russian strikes is bound to grow.
“Of course, not a single such crime, and this is certainly a crime against the civilian population, will be left unpunished, there can be no doubt about that,” Putin stated.
Following this, Russia announced that it launched retaliatory strikes on military sites and what it calls as foreign mercenaries in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Region.
According to Kyiv officials, at least 3 people were killed and 28 others were injured after Kharkiv was struck with waves of drones and missiles.
