Ukrainian attacks make five dead and 14 wounded in Belgorod

O interim governor of the Belgorod region, Alexander Shuvaev, stated that the Ukrainian attacks killed five people in Shebekino district, including paramedics.

“ Once again, I express my deepest condolences to all the families and friends of the victims. I understand the terrible pain you're suffering. The whole region is mourning you,” Shuvaev said.

The interim Russian governor added that 14 people were injured in attacks in several districts of the region, nine of which are hospitalized, one in a serious state.

Russia reported having shot down nearly 500 drones launched in the last few hours by the Ukrainian Army.

In recent weeks Kiev has intensified air strikes with drones on Russian soil, which has led Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to ask international airlines to suspend their operations in Russia.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, with the argument of protecting the pro-Russian separatist minorities in the east and “denazifying” the neighbouring country, independent since 1991 – after the collapse of the Soviet Union – and which has been moving away from Moscow’s sphere of influence and approaching Europe and the West.

The war in Ukraine has already caused tens of thousands of deaths on both sides, and the last few months have been marked by large-scale air strikes from Russia on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, while Kiev forces have targeted Russian territory and the Crimean peninsula, illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, military, logistical and oil targets used to sustain the Russian offensive.