UNITED NATIONS, December 31. /TASS/. The more threats Russia faces, the more harshly it will respond to them, Russia's envoy to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said.

"As we have already stated, one of the goals of our special military operation that pursues the demilitarization of Ukraine is to eliminate threats emanating from the territories bordering Russian regions, including those that became part of Russia after the start of the operation. The more threats are created for us, the tougher we will act. I think it should be clear to everyone," he said at a UN Security Council meeting that was convened by Russia in connection with the shelling of the city of Belgorod.

The diplomat said Belgorod was targeted for the attack on purpose.

"As we all know, in recent weeks the Ukrainian Nazis have lost many well-fortified positions in the suburbs of Donetsk, from where they had been shelling the peaceful neighborhoods of that city for nine years. Maryinka has been liberated, and the Nazis are about to be driven out of Avdeyevka," he said. "But in the Kharkov Region, especially the parts close to the Russian border, the situation is different. To be more precise, it is different as yet."

The city of Belgorod and the surrounding region have recently come under shelling. The latest strike was carried out with Czech-made MLRS that fired two rockets with cluster munitions into downtown Belgorod. At least 21 people were killed and 110 were injured. Exclusively civilian facilities were hit. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, air defense systems intercepted both rockets and most of the other projectiles. Otherwise, the consequences would have been much more serious, the ministry said.