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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Seven killed in 'Ukrainian missile strike' on Russian apartment block

At least seven people have been killed as a section of a Russian apartment block collapsed after it was struck by a Soviet-era missile launched by Ukraine, Russian officials have said.

Seventeen people were also reportedly injured in the incident, which marks one of the deadliest attacks to date on the region of Belgorod.

Ukraine launched what Russian officials said was a massive missile attack with Tochka ballistic missiles and Adler and RM-70 Vampire (MLRS) multiple launch rocket systems.

Footage from the scene showed at least 10 storeys of the building collapsing.

Later, as emergency services scoured the rubble for survivors, the roof collapsed and people ran for their lives, dust and rubble falling behind them.

Firefighters and volunteers operate to secure the area on the site of a partially collapsed apartment building which was damaged by a Ukrainian strike in Belgorod on May 12 (AFP via Getty Images)

Russia's defence ministry said the attack, which it called a "a terrorist attack on residential areas", took place at 8.40am GMT and involved at least 12 missiles.

"Fragments of one of the downed Tochka-U missiles damaged an apartment building in the city of Belgorod," the ministry said.

Russian news agencies said on Sunday at least seven people had been killed and 17 injured, including two children. Others were still trapped under the rubble.

Photos showed rescue workers and residents searching through the ruins on Sunday.

Both Ukraine and Russia say they do not target civilians, though many civilians have been killed in the war by both sides.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the strike was a targeted attack on civilians which showed the criminality of both Ukraine and its backers - primarily the United States and its European allies.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine on the attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed by acting emergencies minister and Belgorod region governor about the “barbaric” missile attack, the TASS news agency cited Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, as saying on Sunday.

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