Russia's Belgorod border region declares state of emergency
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The governor of Russia's Belgorod says two settlements in the region were attacked by drones from the Ukrainian Armed Forces with no casualties reported.
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A car drives by bullet and shrapnel-riddled road sign on the road to the Russian city of Belgorod, near the place where the first clashes between the Russian and Ukrainian forces took place a year ago, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, February 24, 2023. (AP)
The governor of Russia's Belgorod region declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, describing the situation as "extremely difficult" amid ongoing Ukrainian bombardment in the border area.
"The situation in our Belgorod region remains extremely difficult and tense due to shellings from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Houses are destroyed, civilians died and were injured," Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced via Telegram.
He further stated that, starting Wednesday, "a state of emergency will be introduced on the regional level, followed by a request to the governmental commission to declare a federal state of emergency."
Belgorod shares a border with Ukraine's Kharkov region and is adjacent to Kursk, where the Ukrainian forces have initiated a surprise offensive.
Gladkov also mentioned that two areas in Belgorod were attacked by drones from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with no casualties reported.
He reported that one apartment in the town of Shebekino caught fire and slabs collapsed as a result of several drone attacks, adding that the gas supply line was also damaged.
Last week, the governor of the Kursk region declared a state of emergency following an incursion by Ukrainian forces, which reportedly penetrated at least 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) into Russian territory, capturing 28 towns and villages.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Tuesday that Ukraine now controls 74 settlements in Kursk, noting that the cross-border offensive was "purely a security issue," capturing "areas from which the Russian army struck at our Sumy region."
On Monday, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin ordered the military to "dislodge" Ukrainian forces that had entered Russian territory.
According to regional governor Alexei Smirnov, approximately 121,000 people have fled Kursk since the onset of the fighting, which has claimed the lives of at least 12 civilians and injured 121 others, as he reported in a meeting with Putin.
Kursk authorities announced on Monday the expansion of their evacuation zone to include the Belovsky district, home to around 14,000 residents.
Neighboring Belgorod also confirmed the evacuation of its Krasnoyaruzhsky border district.
Russia's Defense Ministry indicated on Tuesday that Russian troops "continue to repel" Ukrainian assaults and had "foiled" attacks by "mobile groups in armored vehicles."
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhy on Tuesday said Kiev was not interested in "taking over" Russian territory and defended Ukraine's actions as "absolutely legitimate".
"The sooner Russia agrees to restore a just peace... the sooner the raids by the Ukrainian defenses forces into Russia will stop," he told reporters.
Read more: Russia vows harsh response to Ukrainian attacks on western regions
