Ukraine and Russia exchanged accusations of attacks on border regions, with the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reporting that Ukrainian forces targeted a fuel depot, causing multiple fires.
The attack allegedly carried out with drones, hit the Volokonovsky district, located near the Russian-Ukrainian border. According to Gladkov, several fuel reservoirs exploded, and firefighting efforts were underway to control the blaze.
In addition to the fuel depot incident, Gladkov mentioned that drone strikes also hit three other areas within the Belgorod region, but no casualties were reported. Meanwhile, overnight airstrikes impacted both sides, with Ukrainian officials confirming casualties in their own Sumy region.
Two people were killed, and four others, including two children, were injured. Residential homes and vehicles sustained significant damage from these attacks.
Ukraine and Russia Trade Blame Over Drone Attacks on Border Regions, Fuel Depot Hit in Belgorod
The Belgorod region also experienced civilian casualties, with three people, including two children, reportedly injured. Gladkov further noted that two residential buildings were destroyed and more than 15 buildings were damaged in the region as a result of the attacks.
The Russian defense ministry confirmed that they had intercepted two drones over Belgorod and one over the Kursk region, both of which have been frequent targets of Ukrainian strikes.
Both Russia and Ukraine have consistently denied targeting civilians, claiming that their operations focus on damaging military infrastructure critical to each other’s war efforts.
Nevertheless, these border regions have seen regular assaults throughout the conflict, leading to widespread destruction on both sides. Despite these denials, the ongoing exchanges of fire have resulted in significant damage to civilian properties and livelihoods.
The broader context of the war, initiated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians and displaced millions of Ukrainians. Entire towns and cities in Ukraine have been reduced to rubble, reflecting the devastating toll that the conflict continues to impose on both countries, with no clear end in sight.
