Russia vows 'punishment' after strike on Belgorod kills 14

(BSS/AFP) - Russia accused Ukraine of targeting thecity of Belgorod with missiles and rockets on Saturday, killing at least 14people and wounding dozens more in an attack Moscow warned would "not gounpunished".
Belgorod lies about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the border with Ukraineand has been repeatedly struck by what Moscow says is indiscriminate shellingby Kyiv's forces.
Unverified footage showed debris strewn across the street and smokebillowing from burnt-out cars in the city's centre, while a large blast can beheard in dashcam footage posted on social media.
AFP was not able to immediately verify the circumstances of the strike, oneof the deadliest on Russian soil since Moscow launched hostilities againstUkraine in February 2022.
Two Vilkha missiles and Czech-made rockets were used in the attack, Russiasaid. It has requested a UN Security Council meeting for 2000 GMT.
"According to updated information, 12 adults and two children were killedin Belgorod. Another 108 people, including 15 children, were injured," Russia'semergencies ministry said.
The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had been briefed on the incident,while the Russian defence ministry warned the strike would "not go unpunished".
Russia's foreign ministry, which has repeatedly railed against Western armsdeliveries to Ukraine, accused the United States and Britain of "inciting theKyiv regime to commit terrorist actions".
Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment.           
  - 'Work underway' -                 
The attack came as rescuers in Ukraine continued to search through rubbleSaturday after Russian strikes killed at least 39 people the day before, in oneof the fiercest attacks since the early days of the conflict.
Schools, a maternity hospital, shopping arcades and blocks of flats wereall among the buildings hit in Friday's barrage, which triggered internationalcondemnation.
Ukraine's military estimated Russia had launched 158 missiles and drones onUkraine and 114 of them had been destroyed.
Air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat told AFP that this was a "record number" ofmissiles and "the most massive missile attack" of the conflict, excluding theearly days of constant bombardment.
"Work is still underway to eliminate the consequences of yesterday'sRussian attack," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
January 1 will be declared a day of mourning in the capital Kyiv, where atleast 16 people were killed, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Three more people were killed by Russian strikes across Ukraine onSaturday, local officials said.
Russia's army said it had "carried out 50 group strikes and one massivestrike" on military facilities in Ukraine over the past week, adding that "alltargets were hit".
The United Nations condemned the attacks and said they must stop"immediately".
 - Missile 'entered' Polish airspace -     
Poland reported that a Russian missile briefly passed through its airspaceduring Friday's attacks.
"Everything indicates that a Russian missile entered Polish airspace... Italso left," said General Wieslaw Kukula, chief of the general staff of thePolish armed forces.
After speaking to Polish President Andrzej Duda, NATO chief JensStoltenberg said the alliance "stands in solidarity" with Poland, adding: "NATOremains vigilant."
In the face of sustained Russian assaults, Ukraine is urging Western alliesto maintain military support.
Ukraine presidential aide Andriy Yermak said Kyiv needed "more support andstrength to stop this terror".
US President Joe Biden called on Congress to overcome its division toapprove new aid for Ukraine, after Washington released its final package ofweaponry under existing agreements still to be renewed.
"Unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be ableto continue sending the weapons and vital air defence systems Ukraine needs toprotect its people," Biden said.
"Congress must step up and act without any further delay."
Britain announced it would send hundreds more air defence missiles to Kyiv,after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared that "We must continue to stand withUkraine -- for as long as it takes."