At least four civilians have been wounded in a Ukrainian attack on the Russian city of Belgorod and several villages along the border, regional head Vyacheslav Gladkov has said.
Belgorod is located near the Ukrainian border, north of Kharkov, and has frequently been a target of long-range Ukrainian artillery, often using weapons provided by the US and its allies.
“Our air defenses worked for the second time today over Belgorod and the region, taking down several targets,” Gladkov said on Telegram, suggesting the attack was carried out with multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS).
Initial reports said that four civilians had been injured in Belgorod, Gladkov said. They were taken to area hospitals for treatment of shrapnel wounds. Four homes, an outbuilding and a garage were set ablaze by direct hits. Fire crews were dispatched to deal with the situation.
Moreover, 23 private homes and five cars were damaged in the attack. Mayor Valentin Demidov visited the scene and the local authorities have set up a crisis response center to deal with the consequences, Gladkov said.
A counter-terrorist operation regime was introduced in Belgorod and several other border areas in August, after the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Region.