A tragic incident unfolded in Belgorod, a city on the Russian border, on Sunday, as an apartment building partially collapsed, resulting in at least 13 deaths and 20 injuries, officials reported. The cause of the collapse was attributed to Ukrainian shelling. Videos circulating online showed rescuers frantically searching through the debris of the building's stairwell, followed by their hasty departure as a section of the roof caved in. The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry confirmed the recovery of 13 bodies from the rubble.
The Russian Investigative Committee, the country's top law enforcement agency, stated that the 10-story building had been struck by Ukrainian shelling. The Russian Defense Ministry later explained on social media that the building had been damaged by fragments of a downed Tochka-U TRC missile. Additionally, air defenses intercepted several more rockets over the Belgorod region, along with two drones in a separate incident on Sunday.
Air raid alerts persisted throughout Belgorod as rescue operations continued. The city had already come under attack on Saturday evening, resulting in one fatality and 29 injuries, according to Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. Western Russian cities have faced drone attacks since May 2023, with Russian authorities pointing the finger at Kyiv. Ukrainian officials, however, have consistently denied responsibility for attacks on Russian territory or Crimea.
The Belgorod region, situated on Russia's western border, has been a frequent target of these strikes. While most cross-border shelling occurs in rural areas, the region's capital has also been affected. In December 2023, an attack in central Belgorod claimed 25 lives, prompting authorities to begin constructing public shelters.