Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia instructed the clergy of the Belgorod Metropolia to provide comprehensive spiritual and material assistance to the families of those killed and injured in Belgorod as a result of the Ukrainian Armed Forces missile strike on the city center on New Year's Eve, the website of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) reported on Tuesday.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia had a telephone conversation with Metropolitan John (Popov) of Belgorod and Starooskolsky the day before, according to the website of the Russian Orthodox Church.
"The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church blessed to strengthen the pastoral participation of the clergy of the Belgorod Metropolia in the destinies of people affected by this tragedy, to provide all possible assistance to the families of the victims and injured, to comfort and support them in this difficult time," the message says.
The ROC stressed that the patriarch drew special attention to the need to provide all possible spiritual and material support to families who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
"The primate of the Russian Orthodox Church ordered, if necessary, to perform funeral services and burials of the dead at the expense of the Belgorod diocese," the message says.
Patriarch Kirill stressed that the residents of Belgorod show courage and perseverance in the face of the trials that have befallen them, despite everything they keep their presence of mind and do not get discouraged.
On December thirtieth, the governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, announced that the Ukrainian military had shelled the center of Belgorod. According to the latest official data announced on Monday evening, 25 people were killed as a result of the AFU strike, including five children, 109 were injured.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Alder missiles and most of the Vampire MLRS rockets were intercepted by air defense systems, several rockets and cluster parts from downed Alder missiles hit Belgorod. As noted in the military department, in the case of a direct hit by cluster munitions of the MLRS "Alder" in Belgorod, and not their debris, civilian casualties would be disproportionately greater.