Russia says Ukraine attempted multiple missile strikes on its territory

ISTANBUL

Ukraine attempted to conduct multiple missile attacks on Russia, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

According to statements from the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine attempted to carry out attacks on three separate occasions, taking place at approximately 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Moscow time (0900, 1000 and 1130GMT).

The ministry claimed that 17 missiles launched from Vilkha multiple launch rocket systems were destroyed over the Belgorod region by Russian air defense systems.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced on Telegram that warning sirens were activated in the region, urging locals to move to shelters.

Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on the Russian claim.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have exchanged accusations over airstrikes against each other that intensified since Friday when at least 40 people were killed in various regions of Ukraine in a massive air attack, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as the "heaviest attack" since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

A day later, 24 people were killed and at least 100 were injured following a Ukrainian attack on the city of Belgorod, which Russian President Vladimir Putin went on to describe as a “terrorist attack” that “will not go unpunished."