The death toll from Ukraine’s massive shelling attack on Belgorod has risen to 18; as many as 111 people were injured, the Russian emergencies ministry told TASS, Paralel.Az reports.

"The number of those killed in Belgorod has increased to 18. A total of 111 residents were injured," it said.

*** 19:17

The number of people killed by a Ukrainian strike in the Russian city of Belgorod has risen to 14 people, with 108 injured, Russia's emergencies ministry said Saturday, Paralel.Az reports citing The Moscow Times.

"According to updated information, 12 adults and two children were killed in Belgorod. Another 108 people, including 15 children, were injured," the ministry said.

President Vladimir Putin has been briefed about the strike, the Kremlin said.

*** 17:55

Ukraine’s Armed Forces have shelled downtown Belgorod in southern Russia, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said, Paralel.Az's Russian bureau reports.

Ten people including 4 children were killed and 45 injured by Ukrainian strikes on the center of the Russian provincial capital of Belgorod on Saturday, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said.

Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said a residential area had been hit, and in a Telegram posting urged all residents to move to air raid shelters as sirens sounded around the city.

The Belgorod region, which adjoins northern Ukraine, has like other Russian border zones suffered shelling and drone attacks all year.

No official comment was immediately available from Kyiv, which rarely claims responsibility for attacks inside its neighbor.

But the Ukrainian news outlet RBC-Ukraine quoted sources as saying Ukrainian forces had struck military targets in Belgorod in response to Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities the previous day.

Note that Russia's Defence Ministry said its anti-aircraft units had destroyed 13 Ukrainian rockets over the southern Belgorod region.