RUSSIA admitted to shelling a village deep in its territory, a devastating mistake that destroyed buildings around a burning crater.
Images of devastation in Petropavlovka, Voronezh region, 150 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, with at least six houses destroyed and part of a street in ruins.
A huge crater was seen on the ground along with scenes of burned-out cars and devastated homes.
Locals from the village, which has a population of 4,819, were evacuated and transported to temporary accommodation centres.
Officials denied any casualties but the plaintiff voice of a villager is heard on a video desperately pleading:
“Where is Vovka [Vladimir]? Alive or not? Damn, damn. Alive or not? ****ing hell.”
Ukrainian sources claim that a rugged Kh-101/555 subsonic missile hit the village after a firing failure by an unspecified Russian fighter jet.
A Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson admitted that a missile that would cause a massacre in Ukraine mistakenly hit a Russian village.
The Ministry of Defense issued a statement: “On January 2, at around nine o’clock in the morning, during the flight of a [Air Force] plane over the village of Petropavlovka in the Voronezh region, an abnormal discharge of aircraft ammunition occurred.
“There were no casualties. Six buildings were damaged.
“An investigation into the circumstances of the incident is underway.
“A commission is working on the site to assess the nature of the damage and repair the houses. “
A pro-war Russian media outlet, Readovka, first blamed Ukraine for the devastation in Petropavlovka.
“The Kiev regime was looking for a normal, non-violent village where other people could comfortably spend the [New Year’s] holidays,” the outlet reported.
The twist of fate came when Russia bombed Ukraine with many missiles, adding a record number of Kinzhal-Dagger hypersonic rockets.
It was one of the most savage attacks of the war.
Alexander Gusev, governor of Russia’s Voronezh region, said: “An emergency discharge of our ammunition was recorded today in the Ostrogozh district.
“There were no casualties, but the damage was recorded, preliminarily, in seven households [in Petropavlovka village].
“At home, the load-bearing structures and the roof are damaged.
“The matter is being clarified. An operational organization operates on site.
Another villager is heard saying, “Here are the guys with the [missile]. . .
“Three houses without anything at all left – ****
“To make a long story short, everything is a mess. All the doors have been smashed.
“And it’s a burst pipe. Here’s our pipe, all of it, lying [on the ground]. That’s what hit.
“That’s the situation, it’s fucked up. The windows, the doors were ripped off. . . Are there any wounded, guys?»
Russian war blogger Callsign Bruce said a “technical malfunction” meant the missile “fell in the Voronezh region, damaging houses”.
“It’s great that we’re officially acknowledging it and blaming it on anyone.
“Admitting any of your failures is worthy.
“Of course, it would be better if there was nothing to admit, but anything can happen.
“I am convinced that the regional government is already offering all the mandatory benefits to the owners. And possibly they would not leave them to their fate.
The governor also pledged to assess the causes.
Residents get monetary refunds and new homes “as soon as possible. “
“I call on citizens to remain calm. I am keeping the operational scenario in the region under control,” the official added.
©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 679215 Registered Office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. “The Sun”, “Sun”, “Sun Online” are registered trade marks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. This service is provided under News Group Newspapers’ Limited’s popular terms and situations in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. To inquire about a license to reproduce material, please visit our distribution site. Check out our online press kit. For other requests, please contact us. To view all of The Sun’s content, please use the site map. Sun’s website is regulated through the Independent Press Standards Organization (IPSO).
Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/