After the terrorist attack in Ukraine in the midst of the holiday season, the number of casualties increased with 22 dead and 109 wounded, the governor of the Russian region of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, lamented.

«Unfortunately, to our great sadness, after the shelling of Belgorod yesterday the death toll increased – 22. One of the victims died at night in the hospital. I offer my deepest condolences to the relatives and friends of the victims,» he said on his Telegram channel.

Gladkov described in his message that, of the 109 injured, 25 were transferred in serious condition to federal clinics, «our doctors are working with all the others and all the necessary medicines are available,» he added.

According to the governor, residents of several neighboring Russian cities in a gesture of solidarity arrived in Belgorod to work overnight on recovery efforts.

«They came to us to help, remove garbage, even a family came from the city of Voronezh, employees of enterprises and institutions of the city, there were many volunteers, in total more than two thousand people tried to help quickly put in order the streets of our city,» Gladkov said in a message.

About 30 buildings with 381 apartments, several private houses and cars were damaged, «restoration works will continue today.» he commented.

Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced that Britain and the United States are behind the Ukrainian shelling.

«These countries incite Kiev to terrorist actions, realizing the failure of the counteroffensive,» the spokeswoman said.

She stressed that the European Union countries are also responsible for this crime for supplying Ukraine with weapons, including cluster munitions.

Air defense systems intercepted most of the targets. However, several rockets and cluster fragments from the downed Vilja missiles hit the city.

He said that in the event of a direct hit by Vilja missiles with cluster munitions, the consequences would be much more severe.

«They seek to provoke Russian troops to similar actions, this strike will not go unpunished,» he concluded.

As of April 11, 2022, a high (yellow) level of terrorist danger has been established in the entire Belgorod region. This is necessary due to the aggravation of the situation on the Ukrainian-Russian border and increased activity of the enemy army.