Ukraine launches missiles on Russian territory for the first time

The aftermath of a rocket attack near a cafe in the southwestern Russian city of Taganrog. Photo: HANDOUT/Telegram/golubev_vu/AFP via Getty Images

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in a statement that the attack did not appear to be directed against any military targets.

“We strongly condemn the new cynical terrorist attacks of the Kiev regime against civilians. and civilian infrastructure,” Ms. Zakharova said.

“Russia reserves the right to a tough response,” she added.

Governor of the Rostov region Valery Golubev said that nine people injured in the incident were hospitalized.

Apparently, the explosion was so powerful that cars parked nearby were buried under bricks torn from buildings.

A second missile was later shot down over the city of Azov, east of Taganrog, and its wreckage crashed in the countryside, far from residential areas, according to the Russian military.

Local authorities said the shell damaged the roof of one building, but did not cause any other damage or casualties.

The attack took place two hours after the first missile strike.

Video posted online by News Site 161.ru and a shot near the port of Azov showed a column of smoke rising in a field, port cranes are visible in the foreground.

heading to the scene Photo: VASILY GOLUBEV

The missile strikes mark a rare attack on Russia's south since Moscow's troops captured nearby areas of southeastern Ukraine last year, including the city of Mariupol, just 100km to the west.

They were carried out after a week break. shelling of Ukrainian port infrastructure on the Black Sea by Russian troops after Moscow refused a deal on Black Sea grain.

The nearest Ukrainian military positions are more than 170 kilometers from Taganrog, where Mayor Andrei Fateev is located. declared a state of emergency in the aftermath of the attacks.

But Russian state media sought to downplay the strikes, with news programs choosing to report on them only towards the end of their coverage.

But some pro-Kremlin figures on Friday urged to retribution.

“Ordinary residential areas were attacked: pure terrorism,” Sergei Markov, a former pro-Kremlin MP, wrote on his popular Telegram channel.

“This is terrorism and we need fight them (Ukrainians) as terrorists».