Ukraine launches missiles, drones against Russia

 

Footage published by Russia's emergency ministry shows burning cars being extinguished by firefighters

According to Russian sources, Ukraine has carried out a series of lethal air strikes on targets in south-west Russia in the last 24 hours.

 

According to Russia's emergency ministry, ten people, including a toddler, were killed and more than 40 were injured in the city of Belgorod.

 

Earlier, Russia's defense ministry announced the destruction of hundreds of missiles and drones launched from Ukraine.

 

The attacks come after Russian airstrikes on Ukraine killed 39 people.

 

Kyiv hailed the strikes as Russia's largest missile barrage on Ukraine so far in the war.

 

According to Ukrainian media, which cites intelligence sources, more than 70 drones were employed in a series of attacks on Russia, with exclusively military targets targeted.

 

They also stated that a group of drones successfully attacked a factory in the Bryansk region that manufactures Russian military equipment such as long-range missiles and anti-aircraft systems.

 

According to his spokesperson, Russia's president has been briefed on the strikes.

 

According to an early statement issued by Russia's defense ministry on Saturday, 13 missiles were destroyed over the region overnight.

 

Later, it was revealed that 32 drones were shot down in the Bryansk, Oryol, Kursk, and Moscow regions.

 

Meanwhile, the governor of the Bryansk region stated that two villages had been targeted and that a child born in 2014 had been slain.

 

He said the attacks had damaged 55 homes, two private businesses, a football ground, a leisure centre and a pre-school.

 

Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukraine of being behind drone strikes in recent months, though Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for these.

 

The strikes come after Russia launched a massive bombardment across Ukraine, killing 39 people and injuring nearly 160. Several cities were hit, including the capital, Kyiv.

 

Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitchsko said on Saturday that at least 16 people were killed in the city, making it the deadliest so far for civilians in the capital.

 

On Friday evening, an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council overwhelmingly condemned Russia's renewed mass-bombing campaign in Ukraine and said attacks must stop "immediately".

 

Hitting civilian infrastructure, according to countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, breached international law.

 

"Rather than peace, Putin chose to mark this holiday season... with an unprecedented number of drone and missile attacks," said US UN representative John Kelley.

 

Russia blamed Ukrainian air defenses for causing damage to civilian buildings.