Several drone strikes hit Russia’s Belgorod region between Tuesday night and Wednesday, said the governor of the territory, which has recently been targeted by suspected Ukrainian armed groups, according to Russian authorities.
“The night was not really peaceful. There were a lot of drone strikes. Air defense intercepted a large part,” Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on the Telegram social network.
The governor added that the attacks damaged vehicles, houses and public buildings in the region, but without causing casualties.
In the Graivoron district, the gas pipeline was hit, according to Vyacheslav Gladkov.
“There is a small fire,” he added, stressing that the authorities were at the scene and that the causes of the incident are being investigated.
Nine civilians were injured during these raids and are still hospitalized, including three in intensive care, according to Vyacheslav Gladkov.
More than 550 civilians have fled the Graivoron district due to the dangerous situation that has gripped the area in recent days, according to the governor.
“As soon as the security forces finish clearing the territory and give their consent, I hope they can return to their homes (…). Yesterday [segunda-feira] it was still dangerous,” Gladkov said.
The Russian military said on Tuesday that it had “exterminated” through its air force and artillery the group that attacked the region the day before, the most spectacular incursion into Russian territory since the start of the conflict.
According to the Russian authorities, a civilian was killed in the village of Kozinka, one of the villages attacked, and a woman died of heart failure during their withdrawal.
The raid was claimed by Ukraine-based Russian armed groups seeking to overthrow Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Source: TSF
