Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed by acting emergencies minister and Belgorod region governor about the “barbaric” missile attack of Ukraine on an apartment block in the city of Bel-gorod, the TASS news agency cited Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, as saying on Sunday.
According to Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor, at least two people were killed in the attack and there might be more people under the rubble.
Russian defence ministry said Ukraine attacked Belgorod with Tochka ballistic missiles and Adler and RM-70 Vampire (MLRS) multiple launch rocket systems.
Moscow has not yet provided any evidence that Ukraine was behind the attack and Kyiv has not commented.
Russia captured nine villages in its surprise invasion of Ukraine’s northern border, the Kremlin said on Sunday.
Troops advanced into settlements on the border with Russia’s Belgorod region in an offensive that began on Friday.
The Russian defence ministry declared on Sunday that its forces had now taken Hatyshche, Krasne, Morokhovets and Oliinykove – all of which lie north of Ukraine’s heavily-bombarded second city of Kharkiv.
The ministry said the Russian forces had “advanced deeply into the enemy defences”.
Ukrainian officials on Saturday insisted that fighting was ongoing in villages on the border and Russia’s forces were being “contained” there.
Ukrainian and Russian military bloggers said that both sides were pouring equipment and soldiers into the area north of Kharkiv as fighting intensified.—Agencies
