A state of emergency has been declared in Russia’s Belgorod region following attacks by Ukrainian forces.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported daily shelling, resulting in property damage and civilian casualties. He plans to request federal emergency status for the region.
The emergency follows a similar declaration in Russia’s Kursk region, which was also targeted by Ukraine last week.
Over the past 24 hours, Belgorod experienced 23 drone attacks, damaging buildings and infrastructure. Russia claimed to have downed 117 drones, which targeted several regions including Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, and Nizhny Novgorod.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian forces have advanced one to two kilometers into Russia’s Kursk region. This escalation is described by Russian officials as a significant provocation.
Russian state media reported that Russian forces had successfully targeted Ukrainian positions and described evacuations from the border zone. Reports indicate that some Ukrainian drones hit Russian air bases, prompting increased security at the Kursk nuclear power plant.
The United States has stated that it was not informed in advance of Ukraine’s incursion and had no involvement. President Joe Biden described the invasion as a dilemma for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In response to the Ukrainian attacks, Russian officials have suggested that Ukraine’s Western allies may have been aware of the operation.
The conflict has led to significant evacuations, with nearly 200,000 Russians displaced from the border regions.
Putin has criticized Ukraine for its actions and questioned the prospects for peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue their operations, aiming to exert pressure on Russian forces and influence potential peace talks.
