Vladimir Putin vowed to unleash hell on Ukraine saying his forces would “intensify” their attacks on the country following strikes in Russia’s Belgorod region on Saturday.
Speaking during a New Year’s Day visit to a military hospital, Putin said Ukraine could expect more such strikes after shelling of the Russian border city of Belgorod that killed more than two dozen people and wounded more than 100 others.
“They want to intimidate us and create uncertainty within our country. We will intensify strikes. Not a single crime against our civilian population will go unpunished,” the Russian leader said, describing the barrage of Belgorod as a “terrorist act.”
Russia launched a record 90 Shahed-type drones across Ukraine during the early hours of the new year.
Putin added: “Of course, we can hit public squares in Kyiv and any other Ukrainian city,” he said. “I understand – I’m boiling with rage – but do we need to hit civilians? No. We are hitting military targets, and that’s what we will keep doing.”
Russia regularly targets civilian Infrastructure in Ukraine and, since May, cities in Western Russia have been targeted although Kyiv does not typically take credit for the attacks.
READ MORE: Putin’s chilling New Year’s message after night of lethal air strikes on Ukraine
Videos shared on social media show the strikes in central Belgorod City which took place after Russia launched an 18-hour bombardment that Ukraine said killed 41 people. The attacks on Ukraine continued on Monday.
A 15-year-old boy was killed and seven people wounded after falling debris from one of 87 downed drones hit a residential building in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, the head of the region’s military administration, Oleh Kiper, said. Debris also sparked several small fires, including at the city’s port.
Meanwhile, four people were killed and 13 more wounded following Ukrainian shelling on Russian-occupied areas of Donetsk, according to the region’s Kremlin-installed leader, Denis Pushilin. Russian state media reported that a journalist was among the victims, but provided no further details.
One person was also killed and another wounded in shelling on the Russian border town of Shebekino, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
With the arrival of winter, movement has slowed on the frontlines. However, Russia has stepped up strikes on Ukrainian cities in a strategy reminiscent of the same period last year.
Now, however, Ukraine has proven its ability to strike deep within Russia – sometimes as far as Moscow – meaning both sides are likely to continue their bombardments.
