Russia claims an airstrike by Kyiv hit one of Ukraine’s own apartment complexes Sunday, killing at least nine — following allegations that the Kremlin also kept accidentally bombing the Russian-controlled area itself.
In one of the deadliest attacks of the war in the Belgorod region, Ukraine allegedly launched Tochka ballistic missiles and other weapons at “residential areas of the city of Belgorod,” Russia’s Defense Ministry said.
Russia’s air defense system took out 12 of the missiles fired, but “fragments” of one of the missiles fell on the apartment complex, killing at least nine people and injuring 20, including two children, according to Moscow and its Belgorod governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov.
Footage from the strike shows nearly a dozen stories of the building collapsing in the fiery blast.
After first responders arrived to search for survivors, the roof over the destroyed area also collapsed and sent debris crashing down on them, follow-up video shows.
Three rescuers were injured in the collapse, according to Russia state news agency RIA Novosti.
Kyiv has yet to comment on Russia’s allegations, which the Kremlin’s Defense Ministry labeled a “terrorist attack.”
Moscow has been accused of hitting civilian areas in Belgorod with its own errant airstrikes May 4, part of a series of friendly-fire incidents plaguing Russian-occupied cities.
An analysis from the UK Ministry of Defense found that the May 4 strike left five people injured and damaged 30 homes and 10 cars.
The UK report also claimed that there were up to 20 “lost munitions accidentally dropped in the Belgorod region” in March and April alone.
An alleged Russian airstrike on Russia-controlled Soloti, about 95 miles southeast of Belgorod, also forced 150 people to evacuate in February, according to the UK report.
Both Russia and Ukraine say they have not targeted civilians during the war despite civilian casualties on both sides.
With Post wires