Terrorist attack at Russian army base leaves 11 dead, 15 injured

A terrorist attack on a training range in Russia's Belgorod Region bordering Ukraine has left at least 11 people dead and 15 others injured.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that the attack was a “terrorist act”.

Two terrorists who carried out the attack were killed on the spot in retaliatory fire, the Defense Ministry noted.

According to RIA Novosti, the two attackers opened fire at a group of volunteer forces during training at a firing range. The Ministry has yet to confirm this information.

The news of the attack comes amid a partial mobilization ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 21.

Over 200,000 mobilized into Russian army in two weeks: Defense minister

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says more than 200,000 people have been drafted into Russia

Earlier this week, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that over 200,000 reservists had been called to arms as part of the process, with most of them still undergoing training. The top military commander added that the fresh forces that had been mobilized were being trained at "80 training grounds and six training centers".

The attack follows the “terrorist act” on the Crimean Bridge last week. Putin on Sunday put the blame for the huge blast that targeted the bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean Peninsula squarely on Ukraine.

Putin: Crimea bridge blast 'terrorist act' done by Ukraine secret services

Putin blames Ukraine for a recent huge blast that targeted a bridge connecting Russia to Crimean.

"There is no doubt this is a terrorist act aimed at destroying critical Russian civilian infrastructure," Putin said at a meeting with the head of an investigation committee which is looking into the incident, adding that, "The authors, perpetrators, and sponsors are the Ukrainian secret services."

After the attack, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that the bombing was just “the beginning.”

Russia launched a "special military operation" in Ukraine in late February with the objective of liberating the eastern Ukrainian region consisting of the pro-Russia self-proclaimed republics of Luhansk and Donetsk, as well as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

In 2014, Crimea also broke away from Ukraine.

In a referendum, 97 percent of voters favored joining the Russian state, refusing to recognize the Western-backed Ukrainian government there that had overthrown a democratically-elected Russia-friendly administration.

Ukraine's Zelensky hints at holding referendum on Crimea, Donbass

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested holding a referendum on the future status of eastern Ukraine as well as the Crimea peninsula as a way to restore the stalled peace efforts and end hostilities with Russia.

Last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had himself suggested holding a referendum on the future status of eastern Ukraine as a way to resolve the conflict and restore the stalled peace efforts to end the hostilities with neighboring Russia.

"I do not rule out a referendum on Donbas in general," Zelensky stated on December 10, 2021 in an interview with the Ukrainian local 1+1 television channel," adding, "It might be about Donbas, it might be about Crimea, it might be about ending the war in general. So it may be that someone, this or that country can offer us certain conditions."

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