MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/. The death toll from Ukraine’s massive shelling attack on Belgorod has risen to 18; as many as 111 people were injured, the Russian emergencies ministry told TASS.

"The number of those killed in Belgorod has increased to 18. A total of 111 residents were injured," it said.

Ukrainian troops have been shelling Belgorod and the Belgorod Region since late Friday. The latest strike was delivered on downtown Belgorod with the use of cluster munitions from Czech-made multiple rocket launchers. At least three minors are among those killed. Damage was done to numerous civilian facilities. According to the Russian defense ministry, air defense systems intercepted both missiles and most of the projectiles. Otherwise, the consequences would have been much more serious, it added.