Recent Reports from Kharkov and Belgorod: A Timeline of Allegations and Responses
Over the last day, claims have circulated that the Russian Armed Forces attacked military command centers in Kharkov, Ukraine. The assertions were issued via a telegram channel affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defense and circulated as official statements. The message described the strike as a response to prior shelling of Belgorod by forces described as the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Ukrainian side conducted an attack on a village location in the afternoon of December 30, according to the same channel.
The published text stated that Russian forces targeted decision-making hubs and military facilities in Kharkov that were described as used by the government in Kiev. The wording emphasizes a direct connection between Ukrainian actions in Belgorod and Russian military responses in Kharkov, presenting the strikes as measures against what it characterizes as criminal activity by the Kiev regime. The channel also highlighted the types of sites hit, including administrative and military targets in the city.
Earlier, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region, provided updates indicating a reported number of casualties and hospitalizations resulting from the Ukrainian actions in Belgorod’s administrative center. The figures cited included a total of 131 people injured, with 109 individuals reported as receiving care in hospitals, including federal health facilities. The update underscores the human impact associated with the exchange of fire along the regional border and within the administrative center itself. [Source: Russian Ministry of Defense and regional authorities]
On the evening of December 31, a United Nations Security Council meeting convened in New York to discuss the Belgorod situation. During the meeting, Russia’s Permanent Representative to international organizations, Vasily Nebenzya, stated that all organizers and performers connected to the actions would be held accountable. The remarks framed the issue within a broader call for accountability and international scrutiny of the events surrounding Belgorod.
Earlier, regional and international actors reacted to the bombing in Belgorod, with various statements underscoring concern about civilian harm and the need for de-escalation. The discussions at the UN reflected the ongoing international focus on border incidents and the responsibilities of parties involved in hostilities along the region’s perimeter. [Source: UN Security Council updates and official statements]