Russia's Response to Ukraine: 24 Dead in Border City
Russia retaliates after deadly attacks in Ukraine's border city, leaving dozens dead and scores injured
Russia has announced that it conducted retaliatory attacks on military locations and "foreign mercenaries" in Kharkiv in response to Ukraine's bombing of the Russian border city of Belgorod, which resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people. Ukrainian officials reported that the attacks on Kharkiv resulted in the deaths of three individuals and injured 28 others.
The head of the regional military administration, Oleh Syniehubov, reported on Telegram that two men and a woman's bodies were recovered from a home damaged by Russian attacks on the village of Borova in the Kharkiv region. The Ukrainian military stated that several missiles hit the city of Kharkiv, injuring two children.
The strikes caused damage to residential buildings, hotels, and medical facilities. Ukraine reported that Russia continued its attacks in other regions including Kherson, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia. Russia's Ministry of Defence stated that their strikes targeted "decision-making centers and military installations," including a hotel housing military commanders and "foreign mercenaries."
The former Kharkiv Palace hotel and the headquarters of the Ukrainian SecurityService for the Kharkiv region were hit, the statement said.
A view shows the Kharkiv Palace Hotel heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine December 31, 2023.
Vitalii Hnidyi/Reuters
The statement also reported the destruction of a control center utilized by the Ukrainian army in the village of Zalestsy in the Khmelnitsky region, as well as fuel depots in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia. Additionally, two HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems were confirmed to have been destroyed.
Russia has stated that the overnight strikes were a retaliation for the deadly Ukrainian attack on Belgorod on Saturday, which they have condemned as a "terror attack." The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people, including three children, and left 108 others wounded, marking one of the most devastating attacks on Russian civilians since the start of the war. Ukraine has not issued an official response.
The Russian Defence Ministry had vowed the bombardment "would not go unpunished."
The final weeks of 2023 have seen an increased number of attacks from both sides.
Russia conducted its largest air attack on Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion on Friday. An unparalleled number of drones and missiles were unleashed on targets throughout the country, resulting in the deaths of at least 45 people.
