On Sunday, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported a Ukrainian military attack on a fuel storage site in the Volokonovsky district, near the border. The attack, which involved lethal drones, resulted in multiple explosions and fires at the depot.
Gladkov detailed that several reservoirs caught fire following the attack, and firefighting crews are currently working to control the blaze. Alongside the fuel depot strike, he also reported drone attacks on three other localities in the Belgorod region. Fortunately, there were no casualties from these incidents.
In response, Ukrainian officials reported casualties from overnight attacks in the Sumy region, where two people died and four were injured. Among the injured were two children. The Ukrainian military administration also noted damage to several homes and vehicles.
In Belgorod, three civilians, including two children, sustained injuries. Gladkov confirmed that two residential buildings were destroyed, and over fifteen others were damaged in the attacks.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting multiple drones over Belgorod and Kursk regions. It claimed that one drone was destroyed over Belgorod, and two others were intercepted during the night. The ministry also noted a cross-border incursion by Ukrainian forces last month.
Both Moscow and Kyiv continue to accuse each other of targeting civilian infrastructure. The conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has resulted in significant casualties and widespread displacement.
The ongoing attacks and mutual accusations reflect the severe and escalating nature of the conflict. Both sides deny intentionally targeting civilians, emphasizing that their strikes are aimed at strategic infrastructure.
The war has devastated large areas, with thousands of civilian deaths and millions of Ukrainians displaced from their homes. Cities and villages in Ukraine have been left in ruins as the conflict drags on.
Reuters has not independently verified the specific details of the reported incidents, underscoring the challenges in obtaining accurate information from the conflict zones. The situation remains volatile with continued clashes and attacks along the border regions.