Russia claims six killed in Ukrainian missile strike on Belgorod region village

Belgorod, Russia – Six people were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike on the village of Koloskovo in Russia's Belgorod region, according to the region's acting governor, Aleksandr Shuvayev. He stated on the state platform "MAX" that "Ukrainian terrorists attacked Koloskovo village with missiles in the Valuysky district," adding that a structure burned and a vehicle was damaged in the attack.

Koloskovo is situated approximately 15 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. This incident follows a day of intensified cross-border attacks, with both Russia and Ukraine launching missile and drone strikes deep into each other's territory, resulting in 19 fatalities across both sides. Civilian casualties have reached their highest levels since the initial months of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

Russia has maintained a near-daily campaign of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine since February 2022. Recently, Moscow has increased its use of hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles, exploiting shortages in Ukraine's air defense systems, partly due to supply diversions related to the conflict between Israel and Iran. In response, Ukraine has increasingly targeted warehouses of Russian online retailer "Wildberries," alleging the company supplies components for Russian drones.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that these strikes, along with attacks on oil refineries, aim to cripple Russia's war economy. United Nations data indicates that 437 civilians were killed in Ukraine in July alone, the highest monthly toll since May 2022. Russian authorities reported 79 civilian deaths on their side in July, an increase from the previous month.

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Ukrainian terrorists attacked Koloskovo village with missiles in the Valuysky district.