'Ukrainian Missile' Falls on Belgorod, Turns Out to Be Russian Air Defense

A video circulating on social media shows that a motor of a missile from Russia's air defense systems tore through a roof and into a child's room in the Russian border city of Belgorod, according to a Russian military analyst.

"The upper block of the Pantsir-S1 rocket flew into a child's room in Belgorod," Ian Matveev, a Russian military analyst affiliated with the Anti-Corruption Foundation, set up by opposition activist Alexei Navalny, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), on Wednesday.

Russia has accused Ukraine of being behind a number of strikes on Belgorod in recent days and President Vladimir Putin vowed on Monday to retaliate. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the strikes on Belgorod, and rarely comments on strikes that occur on Russian soil.

Putin said the attacks—the deadliest in the region since the war began in February 2022—would "not go unpunished."

On Wednesday, Russia's defense ministry said Ukraine had launched another 12 missiles and several drones at the southern region.

Newsweek has contacted the foreign ministries of Ukraine and Russia for comment via email.

The same clip was posted on X by pro-Ukrainian user (((Tendar))), who said that it had been distributed by Russian Telegram channels as they believed it showed destruction caused by Ukrainian missiles in the city.

"Russian channels like 'Zhest Belgorod' distributed videos and pictures of missile fragments, which damaged civilian properties in Belgorod," wrote (((Tendar))). "However, once they realized that those were the booster sections of 23Ya6 missiles of the Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system, they deleted them."

The Ukrainian Military Center, a public organization, also reported that "the zero stage motor of a Russian 57E6 guided surface-to-air missile of the Pantsir SAM pierced the roof of a private house and flew into a children's room in Belgorod."

"It is known that the motor separates about 2.6 seconds after launch, giving the missile its initial velocity," it said. "This indicates that the Pantsir SAM was located in close proximity to residential areas of the city."

The organization said such incidents are "routine" for Belgorod's population.

On Wednesday, the mayor of Belgorod, Valentin Demidov, urged local residents not to post photos and videos of Ukrainian attacks on the region.

"Dear friends, I am strongly requesting that you do not take photos of, or share or post anywhere any videos and photos showing the consequences of bombardments and of anything connected with the special operation in general. This is a matter of our own safety," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

Russian authorities refer to the war in Ukraine as a "special operation."

Demidov said those who publish such content must be prepared to "share responsibility" for future attacks and possible tragic situations, if Russia's air defenses fail.

"This is tantamount to a crime. This is betrayal!" he added.

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