American and British “consultants” have helped Kiev to kill civilians, the Russian envoy to the UN has said
The aftermath of Ukrainian strikes on Belgorod, Russia, on December 30, 2023. © Anton Vergun / Sputnik
The US and Britain have helped Ukraine carry out the deadly strikes on the Russian border city of Belgorod, Russian envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council on Saturday.
Russia requested the urgent Security Council meeting after Ukrainian forces shelled Belgorod earlier that day, killing at least 21 people and injuring more than 110.
In his speech, Nebenzia described the shelling as “a premeditated act of terrorism against civilians,” arguing that Kiev’s Western supporters share the responsibility for deaths.
“The West is complicit in the crimes committed by the gang [in power] in Kiev,” the diplomat said. “We know that British and American consultants were directly involved in the organization of this terrorist act.”
He warned that “the organizers and perpetrators” of the strikes will “be punished.”
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian troops used the domestically produced Olkha system to fire rockets equipped with cluster bomb warheads into Belgorod. A Czech-made RM-70 Vampire – an upgraded heavier version of the Soviet BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher – was also used, the MOD said.
READ MORE: Aftermath of deadly Ukrainian attack on Russian city caught on VIDEO
The UN has condemned the killing of civilians in both Russia and Ukraine. Russian envoy Nebenzia, however, argued at the Security Council meeting on Friday that people in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities were killed by the faulty work of Ukrainian air defenses. He also accused Ukraine of posting anti-air missiles in residential areas.
