Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday it downed 12 Ukrainian missiles in the western Belgorod region, which in recent days has been the target of multiple rocket attacks that have left dozens of people dead.
“This morning, another attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack on structures on the territory of the Russian Federation… was thwarted,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have described Ukrainian attacks on towns and cities inside Russia as “terrorist attacks.”
“Six Tochka-U TRK missiles and six Olkha MLRS missiles were destroyed over the Belgorod region by air defense systems on duty,” the Defense Ministry’s statement added.
There were no reports of any deaths or injuries in the overnight rocket attacks.
Belgorod region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a video posted on social media early Wednesday morning that “the situation in the region remains tense.”
The day before, one person was killed and seven others were injured in rocket attacks on the region, which borders Ukraine.
“As soon as it gets light outside, we’ll conduct house-by-house inspections, assess damage to roofs, windows and facades, we’ll begin restoration work,” Gladkov said.
The governor added that regional officials will gather next week to discuss response measures to the ongoing rocket attacks, including an extension of school holidays in some parts of Belgorod until Jan. 19.
On Saturday, 25 residents of Belgorod were killed in one of the deadliest strikes on Russian soil since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.