Russian authorities confirmed that at least four people were killed and 24 injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Belgorod region, a border area with Ukraine.
The incident occurred overnight, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod, described the attack as one of the most severe in recent times.
“Last night was a terrible day for the entire Belgorod region. Four people, civilians, died from aggression by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and 24 civilians were injured,” Gladkov announced in a video shared on Telegram.
Russian air defenses were reportedly activated to respond to the assault, particularly over the city of Stary Oskol, which is located more than 110 kilometers northeast of Belgorod city.
The Russian Defense Ministry later provided more details, claiming that their air defense systems intercepted a total of 113 Ukrainian drones overnight, 73 of which were shot down over the Belgorod region.
The Ministry also reported that 25 drones were downed over the neighboring Voronezh region, while 14 were intercepted in the Kursk region.
An additional drone was reportedly shot down over the Bryansk region. Russian officials did not elaborate on whether the drones caused further damage in those areas.
Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on the attack or the Russian claims.
The Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, has been subject to increased strikes and skirmishes since the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Cross-border attacks have escalated as Ukrainian forces intensify their use of drones and missile strikes against Russian targets in response to ongoing Russian military actions.
Previously, a Russian guided bomb struck a five-story apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city injuring at least 10 people, including a three-year-old child.
The attack ignited fires and caused significant damage, further heightening the sense of vulnerability in the city, which lies just 30 kilometers from the Russian border.
The bomb hit the apartment block between the third and fourth floors in the Saltivka district, a residential area that has been a frequent target of Russian strikes since the onset of the war.
In the background, Russia has also been involved in humanitarian efforts, notably supporting Lebanon amid the recent escalation in the Middle East.
Russian officials confirmed they sent 33 tons of humanitarian aid to Lebanon in response to the ongoing Israeli strikes on Beirut and other parts of the country.
The aid, which included food, essential goods, medicines, and portable power stations, was delivered via an Il-76 aircraft as directed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov.
Lebanon has been heavily impacted by Israel’s strikes since late September, when Israel began targeting Hezbollah positions after escalating tensions from the Gaza conflict.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that more than 1,100 people have been killed, and over 3,000 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes.
Russia’s humanitarian assistance is seen as part of its broader strategy to maintain influence in the region while offering support to countries affected by the conflict.
This aid comes amid growing international concerns that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could further destabilize the region, with many warning of a potential wider war.
Russian support for Lebanon underscores its role in international humanitarian efforts, even as it remains deeply entrenched in its military campaign against Ukraine.
The drone assault on Belgorod highlights the escalating conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with both sides intensifying their military actions as diplomatic solutions remain elusive.
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