Moscow [Russia], April 21: The bomb caused a large explosion near a Russian residential area in the Belgorod province bordering Ukraine, but no one was injured.
RT reported that an unidentified object fell on the southern outskirts of the city of Belgorod in the province of the same name late at night on April 20, causing a large explosion right on the street and near apartment buildings.
The explosion was so powerful it blew a car into the air and onto the roof of a neighboring house.
Governor VyacheslavGladkov said the explosion left a crater up to 20 meters wide in the street, destroying many cars and windows of surrounding buildings. The official also said that two civilians were injured, one of which was hospitalized.
Not long after, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the explosion was an accident. Accordingly, a Russian Air Force Su-34 bomber flying over the area accidentally dropped a bomb at 22:15. The Russian military has opened an investigation into the incident.
The Russian military has ramped up airstrikes against targets in Ukraine over the past several weeks, using FAB-500 glide bombs dropped from planes like the Su-34.
Belgorod is one of the regions of Russia bordering Ukraine. Weapons and energy facilities in these regions have experienced frequent explosions since Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking with artillery, missiles and drones, but Kyiv has not officially acknowledged the incidents.
Gladkov told local officials that so far 30 civilians have been killed and 120 injured in the incidents.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper