"Air defense systems intercepted the Vilkha missiles and most of the Vampire MLRS rockets. Several rockets and cluster munitions from downed Vilkha missiles hit the city of Belgorod," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry emphasizes that the Kiev regime, with these terrorist actions against the civilian population, is trying to divert attention from defeats at the front, as well as provoke the Russian side to such actions.
"We would like to emphasise that the Russian Armed Forces are working only on military facilities and infrastructure directly related to them. We will continue to act in this way. This crime will not go unpunished," the Defense Ministry added.
Earlier, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said that as a result of the shelling of Belgorod by Ukrainians, 12 adults and two children were killed. Another 108 people, including 15 children, were injured.
The press secretary of the Russian leader, Dmitry Peskov, said that on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a team of the Ministry of Health has already flown to Belgorod.