Russia and Ukraine’s cross-border missile battle stokes rhetoric

Air raids from both sides reported as archenemies blame each other for the recent uptick in violence.

Russia and Ukraine have engaged in rhetoric as they engage in a new phase of war focused on tit-for-tat air raids across the Russia-Ukraine border.

Russia pledged on Tuesday that its military will do everything in its power to tackle an increase in Ukrainian shelling of Belgorod, which sits close to the border. Ukraine, meanwhile, warned it’s running short of anti-aircraft missiles, part of an ongoing effort to push Western partners to raise support amid signs of fatigue.

With the war on the front line in eastern Ukraine bogged down in trenches, Russia has reverted to a tactic developed last winter, when it used air raids to target infrastructure, leaving many Ukrainians short of heat and other essentials.

This winter it has said it is targeting military targets, but many civilian areas have been hit. In retaliation, Ukraine has begun firing back at targets inside Russia, as well as in occupied regions in the east.

Moscow noted that renewed attacks on Belgorod had injured three people on Tuesday. The city has become a regular target of missile and drone attacks in recent weeks, prompting officials to evacuate hundreds and close schools.