At least 13 killed, 31 injured in Ukrainian attack in Russian city of Belgorod

MOSCOW

At least 13 people have been killed and 31 injured in an attack by Ukraine’s military on a 10-story apartment building in the Russian border city of Belgorod, officials said Sunday.

The attack caused the building to collapse and the exact number of casualties remains unknown while more people may be trapped under the rubble, Russia’s Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Relief said in a statement.

Russia’s Defense Ministry in a separate statement called it a "terrorist attack" in which missiles and rockets were used.

Air defense systems intercepted and destroyed several Ukrainian missiles and cannon shells, the statement added.

The attack caused significant structural damage to the building and rescuers had recovered five bodies from the rubble, it added.

Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said additional medical teams have been dispatched to the scene as part of the emergency response.

President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the situation by Emergency Situations Minister Aleksandr Kurenkov and Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.