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Attacks on civilians must be condemned — UN about shelling attack on Belgorod

They constitute a violation of international law, the office of the UN Secretary General said

UNITED NATIONS, December 30. /TASS/. Attacks against civilians constitute a violation of international law and are to be condemned and stopped, the office of the UN Secretary General said, commenting on Ukraine’s massive shelling attack on Russia’s city of Belgorod.

"Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law, are unacceptable and must end immediately," it said. "And of course, they are to be condemned."

Earlier in the day, Russia requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over the attack on Belgorod. It will begin at midnight Moscow time (9:00 p.m. GMT).

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 14 people, including two children, were killed and 108 others were injured. 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.