NewsMysterious explosion in Belgorod: Blame game amid Russian-Ukrainian tensions

Mysterious explosion in Belgorod: Blame game amid Russian-Ukrainian tensions

In the Russian city of Belgorod, an explosion caused a section of a 10-story building to collapse, leading to two fatalities and 20 injuries. The governor of the Belgorod region has blamed Ukraine for the attack. However, experts from the Ukrainian Defense Express service argue that Russia might have caused the incident.

Partially collapsed building in the Russian city of Belgorod
Partially collapsed building in the Russian city of Belgorod
Images source: © TASS

4:03 PM EDT, May 12, 2024

Reports from Russian Telegram channels, which cite emergency services, have been covering the disaster. Photos circulated on social media show that one staircase in the building was completely obliterated, whereas the rest of the structure seems unaffected.
There is a noticeable discrepancy in the Russian narratives. The Belgorod region's governor attributed the cause of the collapse to "a direct missile hit." On the contrary, the Russian Ministry of Defense contends that the building wasn't hit by a missile but instead by debris from a missile shot down by Ukrainian air defense forces using the Toczka-U system.

Ukrainian experts question the Russian account

Defense Express experts have delved into the situation, noting that according to most Russian sources, the building sustained damage primarily on its southwest side. Yet, there's considerably more destruction on the northeast side.

This discrepancy in the damage pattern could imply that the missile that demolished the building originated from within Russia.

Experts from the Defense Express service suggest that the building could have been destroyed by a missile fired from Russia.
Experts from the Defense Express service suggest that the building could have been destroyed by a missile fired from Russia.© Defense Express

The Toczka-U system's dual use

It's essential to recognize that the Toczka-U missile system is employed by both Ukraine and Russia. This weapon has seen frequent use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Specifically, the Toczka system underwent significant enhancements to become the Toczka-U. This Soviet-designed tactical missile system, intended for short-range ballistic missions, now features a launcher mounted on a wheeled chassis. These upgrades have boosted its firing range by up to 70% (reaching 75 miles) and improved the accuracy of its missiles by about 60%. The modified system can deploy fragmentation, cluster, and even nuclear warheads.

Toczka-U - reference photo
Toczka-U - reference photo© Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International, Wikimedia Commons | ©VoidWanderer
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