Burned cars after an attack allegedly carried out by Ukrainian troops in Belgorod, Russia on December 30, 2023. Reuters photo
Russia has evacuated part of the population in the border province of Belgorod and requested further evacuations after repeated and severe Ukrainian air strikes on the border city.
Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Monday that about 300 residents from the city had been temporarily moved to safety away from the border.
“About 300 residents of Belgorod, who decided to evacuate temporarily, are now in shelters in Stary Oskol, Gubkin and Korochansky district located further from the border,” Mr. Gladkov said in a video posted on Telegram.
The evacuation comes as Russia and Ukraine increasingly attack each other with drones and missiles.
Ukraine reported on Monday, January 8 that at least four people were killed when Russia launched more than 50 missiles and drones in the early morning of the same day.
As the front-line fighting in eastern Ukraine bogged down in winter trenches, Russia has focused its airstrikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and what it claims are military targets.
In response, Kiev began firing its drones and missiles at targets in the occupied east, as well as across the border into Russian territory.
On December 30, 25 people were killed in Belgorod after heavy shelling by Ukraine. These are the heaviest civilian casualties in Russia since Moscow launched a special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukraine launched additional cross-border attacks into Russian territory, especially the city of Belgorod, afterward, sowing panic in the area, which is located only about 30km from the two countries’ border.
The city’s governor offered residents the option to evacuate last Friday.
“In the past 24 hours, we received 1,300 requests to send Belgorod children to schools far from the city, in other safe areas,” Mr. Gladkov said.