麻豆社

An oil storage depot was set on fire in Belgorod, a Russian city just north of Ukraine, earlier this week, after what Russia described as an attack by two Ukrainian helicopters. Videos shared on social media showed a fire in Belgorod, 40km (25 miles) from the border and also grainy security camera footage of what appears to be two helicopters firing rockets, allegedly at the depot.

Ukraine's top security official, however, denied Ukrainian forces were behind the attack. Ukrainian aircraft have not struck targets in Russia previously in the war.

Jenny Hill, the 麻豆社 correspondent in Moscow, weighs up the fallout from the attack. She says the Russian response has been "muted", which she finds unusual, given how Russia has framed Ukraine as the aggressor in the past. She also speculates that, if Ukraine were behind the attack, Russia may be embarrassed by such an attack having claimed air-superiority in the region. She goes on to say that a wish for the peace talks to succeed may mean both sides are reluctant to amplify the situation, but in terms of responsibility for the attack, the evidence and rhetoric is inconclusive.

"Is it possible that both sides think, 'let's not make too much out of this' as it will raise tensions at a time when our delegations are trying to reduce tensions?"

Photo: A fuel depot on fire in the city of Belgorod, Russia April 1, 2022 Credit: Reuters

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