Power plant attacked in Russian city near Ukrainian border

A missile struck a power station in the Russian city of Belgorod, not far from the Ukrainian border, on Friday evening. The attack has caused a major blaze at the site.

The local governor blamed Kiev, which was presumably seeking retribution for Russian strikes earlier this week. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that the Ukrainian military struck an electrical substation. If confirmed, this will be the first blow inflicted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on an energy facility in a major Russian town since the massive Russian attack on Ukrainian cities.

Photos and videos published on social media show large tongues of fire rising around the power station and clouds of thick black smoke.

One video in particular showed the very moment a shell hit the facility, causing a major explosion, though the extent of the damage is not yet clear.

The power station had a capacity of 110 kW, according to the Belgorod region’s governor, who added that the fire was promptly extinguished.

Local emergency services are now rerouting the energy supply, Gladkov said, advising that it's expected to be restored in about four hours. Local water-supply systems have not been affected, since they used backup power sources, he added.

Earlier on Friday, residents in at least one of Belgorod City's districts reported a blackout. Locals also spoke hearing powerful explosions.

The incidents came a day after an apartment block in the city was hit during Ukrainian shelling. No casualties were reported. The Belgorod region has repeatedly come under shelling and drone attacks by Ukrainian forces since the outbreak of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev in late February.