A huge column of fire burning an oil depot in Belgorod, Russia: this is the main image of the 37th day of the war in Ukraine which, for the first time, extended beyond the borders, touching the country’s soil invader. Moscow has no doubts, it was a raid carried out by Ukrainian helicopters, which “will weigh on the peace talks”. Kiev initially responded ambiguously, only to deny its involvement several hours later. The White House said it was unable to comment on the Kremlin’s allegations against Kiev for the attack on a fuel depot in Belgorod and kept its focus on Moscow, blaming Vladimir Putin for “starting this war” and praising the resistance of the Ukrainians against “unprovoked Russian brutality”. ”
In any case, the Belgorod raid marked a further escalation on the ground, where fighting continues on all fronts: in Chernhiv, where the Chernihiv cancer hospital was destroyed, and around Kiev, where the Ukrainians have taken over the suburb of Bucha. Moscow: ‘Ukrainian attack sets fire to oil depot in Russia’
The fire in Belgorod, 40 km north of the Ukrainian border, broke out in the middle of the night. According to local authorities, it was triggered by two Ukrainian helicopters that crossed the border at low altitude hitting a fuel storage facility of the state oil company Rosneft. Eight tanks went up in flames and served firefighters all day to tame them. All residents of the area were evacuated and there were two injuries among the staff. The first videos started to circulate showed, in addition to the fire, also the wake of a missile attack from the sky, and CNN verified that in fact two helicopters were flying over Belgorod at that moment, but the American broadcaster could not confirm. their flag. For the Russian Ministry of Defense the
Kiev’s first response was ambiguous: “Ukraine is conducting a defensive operation on its territory, and this does not mean that we are responsible for every catastrophe on Russian territory. I will not confirm or deny these allegations”, explained the spokesman for the Defense Oleksandr Motuzyanyk. Insinuating an incident resulting from Russian negligence, while many prominent Ukrainian commentators have suggested that the attack may have been conducted under a “false flag” by Moscow to justify further offensives or to scuttle negotiations. A few hours later the Ukrainian National Security Council recalibrated, stating that the Russian allegations, “according to our information, do not correspond to reality”. If the attack on Belgorod was actually the work of Kiev, it would be the first conduit into Russian territory. Among other things, on a strategic objective, the depot that ensured fuel supplies to fuel the Russian invasion along the route to Kharkiv. And it would also be a sign that the counter-offensive is gaining momentum and that Ukraine is still able to strike with its air forces, despite Moscow’s proclamations. For the Kremlin, however, the raid on Belgorod “will not create the right conditions for the continuation of negotiations”. Ukraine is still able to strike with its air forces, despite Moscow’s proclamations. For the Kremlin, however, the raid on Belgorod “will not create the right conditions for the continuation of negotiations”. Ukraine is still able to strike with its air forces, despite Moscow’s proclamations. For the Kremlin, however, the raid on Belgorod “will not create the right conditions for the continuation of negotiations”.
And on Ukrainian soil, the Russian armed forces continued to attack on all fronts. In Kiev, Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko spoke of “huge” battles in the north and east of the capital, but in the suburbs the Ukrainians demanded the release of Bucha. Also in the north-east, the artillery of the occupiers destroyed the oncology department in Chernihiv, while in Kharkhiv the second oldest university in Ukraine has now been reduced to a pile of rubble. On the main front of the offensive, the Donbass, Putin’s Army continues to strengthen its contingent, especially around Mariupol, to bring down the first large coastal city since the beginning of the war. Heavy bombing also hit the Lugansk region, which is still halfway controlled by the Ukrainians. The only signal, albeit slight, the opening between Moscow and Kiev was the second exchange of prisoners. The Ukrainians said that 86 of his soldiers have returned home, 15 of them are women.
