Defense Ministry admits ‘accidental discharge’ by fighter plane near border with Ukraine
At least three women were injured after Russia accidentally fired on one of its own cities, according to the defense ministry.
A large explosion in Belgorod damaged residential buildings, and footage from the scene showed an “enormous” crater about 20 metres across. Belgorod is close to the Ukrainian border and Russian aircraft frequently fly over it to attack Ukraine.
“As a Sukhoi Su-34 air force plane was flying over the city of Belgorod there was an accidental discharge of aviation ammunition,” the defense ministry said. Moscow said it would investigate the incident.
Sukhoi Su-34 air force plane accidentally dropped ammunition while passing overhead
BELGOROD REGION GOVERNORATE/ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES
Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the region, which has 1.5 million residents, said that one of the victims was in hospital with a head injury.
A five-storey apartment block damaged by the blast was evacuated by emergency personnel, with some residents being put up in a hotel. Four apartments and four cars were damaged, as well as electricity pylons. Gladkov said that residents of the city had faced “difficult ordeals” as a result but would get through it together.
In recent months there have been a number of apparent Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod, including explosions at an airport, an oil depot and a power plant. This week there were explosions at two electricity supply stations near Belgorod in a suspected Ukrainian drone attack, leaving thousands without power. Russia launches frequent rocket, artillery and warplane attacks on Ukraine.
Three women were injured, with one of them in hospital with a head injury
The UN has recorded 8,300 civilians killed and almost 14,000 injured in Ukraine between the start of the war on February 24 last year and March 20 this year, although it believes the actual casualty figures are “much higher”.
The accidental strike on Belgorod is at least the third embarrassing incident involving a Russian warplane since President Putin announced the invasion. In October, an Su-34 crashed into a residential building in the southern Russian city of Yeysk, killing 15 people. Less than a week later, an Su-30 two-seater fighter hit a residential building in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, killing both crew. No one was hurt on the ground.
Source: The TImes
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