Two dead in Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian border region – governor
Two people have been killed in a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russian border region of Belgorod, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram on Friday. Around a dozen settlements in the region were attacked, according to the governor’s data.
One attack killed a civilian and severely injured another in a village located around 18km from Russia’s border with Ukraine, Gladkov said. Two attacks against other settlements left one civilian injured in each, he added.
Closer to the evening, a Ukrainian UAV struck a vehicle, killing a staff member of a local security company, according to the governor. Four of his colleagues who were nearby at the moment of the attack also sustained injuries and were hospitalized, Gladkov said.
Around half a dozen other Ukrainian drone strikes on Friday resulted in property damage. According to data provided by the local authorities, the strikes targeted civilian infrastructure, private houses, commercial structures, and vehicles.
Belgorod Region has suffered from regular attacks launched by Ukraine amid the conflict between the two nations. In May 2024, Russia launched an incursion into neighboring Kharkov Region, which it said was meant to make it more difficult for Kiev to attack nearby Belgorod Region with short-range weapons. Nevertheless, Ukrainian forces have regularly launched drone strikes against the region.
Earlier this week, the Ukrainian military also launched cross-border attacks on Belgorod Region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
The ministry linked the operation, which involved 200 soldiers and 29 pieces of military hardware, including five tanks, to a phone call between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, which took place on Tuesday.
All the attacks were repelled, with the invading force losing up to 60 servicemen and at least one tank, the Russian military said.
The latest Ukrainian attacks come amid negotiations for a partial ceasefire aimed at suspending long-range strikes on energy infrastructure by both sides. The measure, which is advocated by Trump, seeks to facilitate peace talks and establish a comprehensive truce.
