Multi-story building in Belgorod partly collapses after Ukrainian strike

The Russian Emergencies Ministry says a total of 17 people were rescued from the rubble over the course of the search operation that lasted for over 20 hours, repeatedly interrupted by missile danger alerts.

The search and rescue operation in Belgorod has wrapped up, with the final death toll from the Ukrainian strike that caused a partial apartment block collapse standing at 15 people, according to the emergencies ministry.

The lack of reaction from American officials to the deadly Ukrainian shelling of the Russian city of Belgorod, demonstrates Washington’s willingness to ignore and whitewash any Kiev’s crimes against civilians, the Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov has said.

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“It emphasizes Washington’s readiness to do everything to relieve the Kiev puppets of responsibility for their atrocities,” he added, noting that so-called “independent” media has totally ignored the fact that the city was struck at least ten times within the day.

“Children, women, and old people are being killed with Western weapons. Some promises by Kiev not to use weapons it received from America on targets in our country are not worth a penny,” he emphasized, blasting the “ostrich” policy adopted by the collective West and the reluctance to restrain “Ukrainian henchmen.”

Russian air defenses intercepted “several aerial targets” over Belgorod Region, governor Gladkov has said, adding that according to preliminary information there were no injuries in the latest strike. However, several houses and cars were damaged in the village of Cheremoshnoye close to the Ukrainian border. According to Gladkov, three people miraculously survived a “direct” artillery strike that completely destroyed their house.

Another victim’s body was pulled from under the rubble, according to authorities, bringing the number of casualties to 15 people.

The recovery operation has stretched into the night, as rescue teams continue searching through rubble and debris, according to videos from the scene.

The death toll in Belgorod has grown to 14 people, after rescuers located another body under the rubble of the collapsed building, according to the emergency services.

Authorities have issued another air raid alert, urging the residents of Belgorod to seek shelter. “If you are at home – do not approach the windows and take shelter in rooms with solid walls. If you are outside, seek shelter or another safe place,” the regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram.

Rescuers have recovered the body of another victim from under the rubble of the partially collapsed apartment block, the Russian Emergencies Ministry has said, adding that the latest discovery brings to 13 the total number of victims found at the site.

The death toll linked to the Ukrainian attack on Belgorod has risen to 11, the regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov says in a statement on Telegram. Eight victims were found under the rubble of a partially collapsed apartment block, and three more, including a 17-year-old girl, were killed in another “massive shelling” by Kiev’s troops later on Sunday, he states.