Russia intercepts 12 rockets: No casualties, significant damage
Approximately 12 rockets were shot down over Belgorod, Russia, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The Mash channel reports that the targets were an airport and a power plant. A fire broke out in the city caused by falling debris from the downed missiles. No one was killed.
5:31 PM EDT, July 3, 2024
An alarm for the Belgorod Oblast in Russia was announced before 5:00 AM Eastern Time. "Go to the basement. Stay there until you receive a signal that the alarm is over," wrote Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the oblast, on his website. A few minutes later, explosions occurred over the region.
Belgorod under fire
Plumes of black smoke appeared on the outskirts of Belgorod. A vehicle service station caught fire. Several aerial targets were shot down directly on the approach to the Russian air defense launcher in Belgorod Oblast.
"The launchers were not damaged during the attack – the smoke visible in the video was created during the rocket launches. Witnesses counted at least nine explosions," writes the Belgorod channel Pepel.
Was the target the airport and power plant?
Pro-Russian Mash claims that the targets were the local airport and power plant. "Following one of the largest attacks, fragments fell on the facade of the airport building and the area of Severny Industrial Park. A vehicle inspection station caught fire," it reads. The channel claims that as many as 12 rockets were shot down over the region.
Gladkov reported that about 27 cars and several buildings were destroyed in the attack.
At 6:40 AM, another air raid alarm was announced in the region.
