What is known about the victims
Reports describe a deadly strike on the center of Belgorod that killed twelve adults and two children and left more than one hundred wounded. The information comes from the Russian Ministry of Defense via its Telegram channel, which framed the incident as an indiscriminate attack by Ukrainian forces.
According to the ministry, the Kiev leadership sought to divert attention from battlefield setbacks by provoking a wider response. Telegram sources later reported that 57 people, including 13 children, sustained injuries in the attack.
In the aftermath, a team from the Ministry of Health, along with a group from the Ministry of Emergencies led by Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, was dispatched to Belgorod to aid the victims. The contingent included Moscow doctors selected by Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who pledged assistance for rebuilding if necessary.
Residents of Shebekino, in the Belgorod region, indicated that local ambulance crews were overwhelmed, advising people to avoid minor requests as medical resources were redirected toward Belgorod.
During the bombardment, some shelters were inaccessible. Others were locked or cluttered with debris and water, leaving residents with limited options for shelter. A survivor recalled that people moved toward shelters, but many could not find cover, and managers later explained closures without offering a clear reason.
What is known about the bombardment itself?
The Ukrainian security and defense forces were cited as the source of the attack, described as a missile strike on military facilities in Belgorod by a source from the security services (source acknowledged: RBC-Ukraine). Officials said such events have occurred before in the region, noting that neighboring areas like the Dnieper, Kharkov, and Odessa have faced bombardments as well, with Ukraine’s forces taking retaliatory action after prior operations in the area.
Russian officials claimed the Ukrainian Armed Forces used two Vilkha missiles equipped with cluster munitions, in addition to Czech-made Vampire MLRS rockets. Air defenses reportedly stopped most projectiles, but some Vampire shells and fragments from downed missiles reached Belgorod. The Ministry warned that direct hits by Vilkha missiles bearing cluster munitions could yield far more severe consequences.
According to authorities, Ukraine’s assault did not destroy a single military facility in central Belgorod but damaged roughly forty civilian structures, including a local shopping center. A regional merchant hub and other stores were affected, with many shoppers present near the New Year holidays. Eyewitness accounts described loud explosions, shattered glass, and moments of fear as people sought shelter while sirens wailed. Emergency responders, including the army and disaster services, quickly arrived at the scene.
One shell reportedly struck the ice rink at Cathedral Square, with the regional government building sustaining damage as well. Belgorod State Technological Institute, Belgorod National Research University, and related facilities were targeted, though some sites reportedly housed no occupants at the time. Authorities noted impacts on housing infrastructure as well.
Fires were reported across the city, with the Ministry of Emergencies recording ten blazes that were eventually extinguished. A dedicated hotline, 122, was established to collect information about casualties and damages.
Beyond Belgorod itself, Ukrainian forces also shelled outskirts of Krasnoe in the Shebekinsky district and Urazovo in the Valuysky district. No injuries were reported there, but damage included a sports and recreation complex building, several private properties, and a power line. A non-operating agricultural facility caught fire as well.
Attribution note: This synthesis draws on official statements and on coverage compiled by regional news services, with acknowledgment of the cited sources for the reported events.