James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv

Belgorod is about 20 miles (32km) from the border with Ukraine. Air strikes in cities like this are uncommon but not unprecedented.

We're told nearby Bryansk was also targeted. Reports say a large microelectronics factory was hit. Russian officials are claiming homes were destroyed and children are among the dead.

Ukrainian intelligence sources have been quoted in the media as saying more than 70 drones were used in a series of strikes on military targets.

Kyiv rarely admits to such attacks across the border, although it has carried out strikes like this before.

Its aim has always appeared less military-focussed, and more to bring the invasion closer to the Russians citizens. This time, the strikes came a day after Moscow carried out its biggest ever aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

The Kremlin says Vladimir Putin has been briefed on today's attacks.

Image source, Reuters

The situation in south-western Russia has escalated over the last several hours, so here's a quick summary of what we know so far:

• The alleged Ukrainian attacks first emerged on Friday night, when Russia's defence ministry said 13 missiles were destroyed over the Belgorod region overnight
• Later, the ministry said 32 drones had been shot down in the Bryansk, Oryol, Kursk and Moscow regions
• The governor of Belgorod - a region bordering Ukraine - initially said a man had died after a strike in the early hours of the morning
• Another child was also killed in an attack in Bryansk, that region's governor also said
• Ukrainian media - citing intelligence sources - reports that more than 70 drones were used in a series of attacks on Russia and only military targets were attacked
• The reports added that a group of drones successfully hit an electronics factory in Bryansk used to make Russian military equipment like long-range missiles and anti-aircraft systems
• But a series of further strikes over the last few hours on the centre of Belgorod have led to a death toll of 14 people, including two children, according to Russia's emergencies ministry

We've seen various images and footage purporting to show the aftermath of strikes on the Russian city of Belgorod - where authorities say 14 people have died, including two children.

The video below, captured on a dashcam, has been verified by the BBC.

It shows an explosion on a street in the city, and people running from the scene.

Other footage and images shows damage to buildings and vehicles gutted by fire.

Please note that the video contains upsetting scenes.

The Russian ministry of defence has put out a statement reacting to the Belgorod attack.

It says the strikes were carried out with Ukrainian Olkha and Czech-made Vampire rockets fitted with cluster-munition warheads, and that air defence systems intercepted all the missiles and most of the rockets.

However, "several rockets and cluster parts from the downed Vilkha missiles hit the city of Belgorod", the statement says. Twelve adults and two children were killed as a result, and 108 people have been injured, it says.

The statement adds that if the Vilkha missiles hit their targets directly and released cluster munitions, "the consequences would be immeasurably more severe".

"The Kyiv regime, which committed this crime, is trying to distract attention from defeats at the front, and is also wanting to provoke us," the statement says.

It adds that "the Russian Armed Forces target only on military facilities and infrastructure and we will continue to do so".

"This crime will not go unpunished," the statement concludes.

Ukraine has not yet commented directly on the situation in Belgorod, but Ukrainian media - citing intelligence sources - say only military targets have been attacked.

We're restarting this live coverage after getting news of a series of deadly air strikes in the Russian city of Belgorod, near the border with Ukraine.

Russian officials say at least 14 people have been killed, including two children.

Ukraine has not commented directly on the situation Belgorod, but Ukrainian media - citing intelligence sources - say only military targets have been attacked.

Footage circulating on social media shows a series of explosions in the centre of the city - which is about 80km (50 miles) from the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

The attacks follow a deadly series of Russian strikes on Friday - which killed 39 people in cities across Ukraine.

Gem O'Reilly
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

It's 18:00 (GMT) here and 20:00 in Ukraine right now - we're pausing our live coverage.

Here are the main developments today:

• At least 30 people have been killed and dozens wounded, with the death toll still rising after what Ukraine's military described as the biggest missile and drone attacks in nearly two years of fighting with Russia
• Grant Shapps announced on X , externalthat the UK will provide about 200 air defence missiles in support of Ukraine

• More than 150 missiles and drones were reportedly fired across Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro and Kharkiv
• President Zelensky thanked soldiers fighting on the front line by recording a video, external in Avdiivka
• Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko has said it is "critically important" to have the support of the US and Europe in order for Ukraine to continue to fight

Live coverage was brought to you by Heather Sharp, Kathryn Armstrong, George Bowden, me, Adam Durbin and Nadia Ragozhina.

• Read our latest news story here

James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Time and time again here in Ukraine, people's lives are disrupted.

Powerful Russian air attacks spread fear across the country as they kill, maim and destroy.

It is a constant theme of the last two years: Russia keeps trying to suppress the entire Ukrainian population, by firing missiles and drones at cities that it can't necessarily occupy.

Its goal is to lessen the Ukrainian people's will to defend themselves and their country.

This morning’s attack however was on a scale we’ve not seen before.

More than 150 missiles and drones were reportedly fired at Ukraine.

The level of destruction is something Kyiv hasn't seen in a very long time. But the point Russia is trying to make with this attack is less clear.

This is also difficult for President Zelensky diplomatically. The last US-approved package arrived this week, containing $250m (£196m) worth of ammunition and some equipment for the country's air defences.

But there is also a package worth more than $50bn (£39bn), which is stuck amid a political battle inside the US Congress. That’s starting to have a real effect here.

Looking ahead to the coming weeks and months, Ukraine’s ability to defend itself is far from assured.

At least 30 people have died in the Russian air strikes on Ukraine and 160 wounded, according to the country's interior ministry.

Image source, Reuters

US President Joe Biden says Russia's latest attack is a "stark reminder to the world that, after nearly two years of this devastating war, Putin’s objective remains unchanged".

In a statement,, external Biden calls on Congress to "step up and act without any further delay".

The White House this week approved another $250m (£195m) of US military aid to Ukraine but it is the last funding available without fresh approval from Congress, where talks have stalled.

"Unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defence systems Ukraine needs to protect its people," Biden says.

"We cannot let Ukraine down. History will judge harshly those who fail to answer freedom’s call."

CCTV footage shows a clergyman narrowly avoiding being hit by piece of debris falling from the ceiling of a church in Odesa.

Russian strikes that hit the southern port city earlier today have killed four people, local officials say.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

World leaders have responded to Russia’s latest attacks across Ukraine, with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak writing on X, formerly Twitter,, external that they “show Putin will stop at nothing to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom and democracy".

France’s foreign ministry condemns Russia’s “strategyof terror”, external, which it says in a statement is “aimed at destroying Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in order to weaken the resilience of the Ukrainian population”.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, external, slams “yet another cowardly and indiscriminate targeting of schools, a metro station and a hospital”.

And Germany's foreign ministry, external says that while "Russia is once again spreading terror", Germany "won't move an inch away" from supporting Ukraine.

The UK will provide about 200 air defence missiles to Ukraine to help in its defence from Russian drone and missile attacks.

The missiles, which were made in Britain, are designed to be launched from aircraft including Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets, the defence ministry says.

They re-supply the UK-developed air defence systems that were given to Ukraine a year ago.

"Today’s air defence package sends an undeniable message, in the face of Russian barbarity that the UK remains absolutely committed to supporting Ukraine," says Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.

Britain has so far committed £4.6bn ($5.8bn) to the Ukrainian war effort.

• Read more here

Image source, @ZelenskyyUa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said in a post on X, external that he has visited the town of Avdiivka, which is under regular attack from Russian forces.

He describes it as "one of the toughest spots of the frontline".

Zelensky says he personally thanks the troops, and discussed the defence situation and troops' needs with the commander.

"I thanked everyone on the frontlines for their service this year," he writes. "Our whole country withstood it thanks to such warriors. All those who, against all odds, defend our country. Those who deliver combat results every day."

A warehouse was one of several buildings destroyed by missile and drone attacks in Kyiv.

Police officers urged local people to shelter as cars were damaged, fires erupted and debris fell from the sky.

It's almost two years since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 with dozens of missile strikes on cities all over Ukraine.

Russian ground troops moved in quickly. Within a few weeks they were in control of large areas of Ukraine and had advanced to the suburbs of the capital, Kyiv.

Russian forces were bombarding Kharkiv, and they had taken territory in the east and south as far as Kherson, and surrounded the port city of Mariupol.

Image source, .

But they hit very strong Ukrainian resistance almost everywhere and faced serious logistical problems with poorly motivated Russian troops suffering shortages of food, water and ammunition.

Ukrainian forces deployed Western-supplied weapons systems, which proved highly effective against the Russian advance.

By October 2022, the picture had changed dramatically and having failed to take Kyiv, Russia withdrew completely from the north. In November, it recaptured the southern city of Kherson.

However, since then, little has changed in terms of control on the ground, despite Ukraine's counter-offensive, which began in June 2023.

We are getting reports that the death toll in Ukraine has risen again following Russia's attack.

At least 28 people have been killed, according to Ukrainian government and regional officials.

However, overall death toll figures vary.

The highest number of fatalities in a single area are thought to be in Zaporizhzhia, where eight people have lost their lives, according to Governor Yuriy Malashko.

Image source, Reuters

A maternity hospital in Dnipro, in central Ukraine, was one of the buildings hit by the latest round of Russian strikes.

Nina, a doctor who was on duty there this morning, tells the Reuters news agency that part of the building was being used as a shelter.

In another part of the hospital, a nurse walks through the rubble.

"This is where the maternity rooms are," she says, "this is exactly the side of the building that was on fire."

Staff decided to evacuate the rooms "exactly when we saw the air raid alert," another nurse said.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Oleksiy Kuleba/Telegram

The Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Oleksiy Kuleba, has said the central Cherkasy region has been hit by a Russian missile.

He wrote on Telegram, external that the missile struck the city of Smila.

"According to preliminary information, six people were injured, one seriously. Twelve private houses were also damaged," he said.

He also warned: "Don't ignore air alarms."

Zhanna Bezpiatchuk
BBC Ukrainian Service, in Kyiv

Image source, Reuters

Carrying on as normal despite the Russian attacks which may turn out fatal, has become Ukrainians’ go-to daily formula.

After a sleepless night in Kyiv, I received a phone call from the post office, where my order is being processed.

The call is not about cancelling it but about clarifying contact information. I suspect the postal workers have not slept either, feeling the same stress and fear as many others. But their focus remains sharp and work helps them cope.

Other ways of coping with the daily threat to life include learning to play a musical instrument.

I recently attended a performance by teenagers who are using music to help them deal with the war.

On that day in the middle of December there were five air alarms in a row and explosions in Kyiv.

“The war showed me the importance of music in my life. It helps and heals," 17-year-old Oleksandra Yevych told me.

She admitted that sometimes it was just necessary to keep on going - singing, dancing, and working.

When I left my house in Kyiv this morning and heard another air alarm, I was thinking about her words.