Five civilians die in Ukraine's shelling of Russia's Belgorod region, governor says

Five civilians died and 12 others were injured after Ukraine shelled the town of Rakitnoye in Russia's Belgorod region, the governor of the region in the country's southwest said on Sunday.

Among the injured are three children, Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region that borders Ukraine, said on the Telegram messaging app.

Nine of the injured were hospitalised, with six of them listed in a serious condition, including a 16-year-old girl who is in intensive care

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"We will definitely help everyone who suffered," Gladkov said on the Telegram messaging app. "Our task now is to endure, to overcome trials, to cope with trouble."

Reuters could not independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians in the war, which Russia launched with a full-scale invasion on its smaller neighbour in February 2022.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters