Kathmandu— Six civilians were killed and four others injured, including a teenager, when a Ukrainian missile struck the village of Koloskovo in Russia’s Belgorod Region on Monday morning, according to acting Governor Alexander Shuvaev. The attack damaged a passenger car and caused a structure to burn down. The Belgorod region has faced repeated attacks since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, with Ukraine recently intensifying its long-range drone campaign targeting civilian infrastructure within Russia.

Details of the Attack

The missile strike targeted Koloskovo, located in the Valuysky District of the Belgorod Region. Governor Shuvaev reported that four individuals were injured alongside the six fatalities, with one of those injured being a 14-year-old child. Two of the injured opted to forgo hospitalization after receiving initial medical attention, while the teenager and another individual were transported to Valuysky district hospital for further treatment.

Regional Impact and Recent Intensification

The Belgorod Region, which shares a border with Ukraine, has experienced numerous missile, artillery, and drone attacks since the beginning of the conflict in 2022. In recent months, Ukraine has increased the frequency and intensity of its long-range drone strikes within the region, targeting oil facilities, warehouses, residential areas, and other civilian infrastructure. These escalated attacks coincide with reported setbacks experienced by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.

Moscow's Response

Russian authorities have condemned the attacks as acts of terrorism deliberately aimed at civilians. In response to these strikes, Moscow has increased its own long-range military operations targeting Ukraine’s military infrastructure and logistical networks. Russian officials maintain that their strikes are exclusively directed towards military targets and facilities supporting Ukraine's armed forces.

The situation in the Belgorod region remains tense as a result of ongoing cross-border attacks, with both sides continuing to accuse each other of targeting civilians.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.