8-1-2024 (KYIV) Russia declared on Monday that it had orchestrated the evacuation of approximately 300 individuals from the border city of Belgorod due to relentless shelling by Ukrainian forces. This marks the most significant evacuation from a major Russian city since the onset of the conflict.
The city of Belgorod, situated less than 32km from the Ukrainian border, has become the epicentre of deadly strikes by Kyiv’s forces. The unprecedented announcement follows a series of devastating attacks, prompting an exodus of residents seeking refuge in temporary accommodation in Stary Oskol, Gubkin, and the Korochansky district – all situated farther from the conflict zone, as revealed by regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
Governor Gladkov disclosed, “Over the past 24 hours, we received 1,300 requests to send Belgorod children to school camps away from the city in other regions.”
Despite attempts by the Kremlin to project normalcy, the recent spate of strikes on Belgorod has brought the Ukraine conflict uncomfortably close to home for Russians. The city witnessed a tragic incident on Dec 30 when Ukrainian shelling claimed the lives of 25 people, leading to an extended closure of schools.
In response to this attack – the deadliest in Russia since the conflict erupted in February 2022 – Moscow pledged to escalate its strikes on Ukraine.
A fresh wave of Russian strikes on Monday claimed at least four lives and left dozens injured, according to regional officials. Kyiv had issued a warning last week, stating that it possessed only enough ammunition to endure a few more potent attacks, and pleaded for increased Western assistance.
Ukraine’s deputy head of the presidency, Oleksiy Kuleba, expressed, “The enemy launched dozens of missiles at peaceful cities and villages of Ukraine.” The air force reported a total of 59 projectiles, including drones and missiles, fired at Ukraine, with Moscow allegedly targeting civilian infrastructure.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown, Kryvyi Rih, bore the brunt of the assault as Russian missiles struck a shopping centre and high-rise buildings, resulting in one casualty, as confirmed by Kuleba. He added, “In Kryvyi Rih, there are many breakages in power grids, there are power outages, and electric transport does not work.”
Further casualties were reported in the western region of Khmelnytsky, far from the eastern frontlines, where two people lost their lives in a missile attack, as stated by Ukrainian police. Additionally, an elderly woman rescued from the rubble of her house in the city of Zmiiv in the eastern region of Kharkiv succumbed to her injuries, according to regional governor Oleg Synegubov.
In a briefing, Russia claimed to have targeted only “military” installations in its latest offensive.
The recent attacks occurred a day after Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa’s surprise visit to Kyiv on Sunday. Kamikawa, the first high-level foreign official to visit Kyiv in the new year, announced Japan’s unwavering support for Ukraine.
During a press conference held in a bomb shelter amid air raid sirens, Kamikawa condemned Russia’s missile and drone attacks, particularly on New Year’s Day. She disclosed that Japan would allocate US$37 million for a drone detection system and supply five generators to aid Ukraine in “surviving” another winter.
Expressing gratitude for Japan’s decision to provide F-16 jets last year, Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba highlighted the pressing need for air defence systems. “Every day, Ukrainian cities are destroyed by Russian missiles and drones. They cannot capture us, so they are trying to destroy us,” remarked Kuleba.
