In a targeted assault, a missile strike struck the Russian city of Belgorod near the Ukraine border on Thursday. The attack resulted in the death of six individuals, tragically including a child, according to a Russian official. Additionally, 18 people sustained injuries in the incident.

Belgorod, situated around 40 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, was reportedly hit by an aerial attack. The governor of the Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, revealed that among the injured, there were five children. The attack follows previous air assaults on the city, which aim to make the ongoing conflict more tangible within Russia itself.

Russia's Ministry of Defence confirmed that air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed 14 rockets over the wider Belgorod region on the same day. The ministry attributed the attack to Ukraine, claiming that the rockets were launched from an RM-70 Vampire multiple-launch rocket system around midday local time.

The repeated strikes on Belgorod have dealt a blow to President Vladimir Putin's efforts to reassure the Russian population that life in the country remains relatively normal amidst the ongoing conflict. The targeted assault in December last year resulted in the deaths of 25 people, prompting widespread civilian evacuations.

Recent developments in Ukraine's war have led to a stalemate between the conflicting sides. Both parties have claimed advances and victories in certain regions, but the overall front remains stagnant after several months of conflict.

The missile strike on Belgorod serves as a reminder of the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, further exacerbating the fragile situation on the border.