Following the Belgorod blast, authorities moved to defuse an aerial bomb in a designated test area. The update came from Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional head, on a Saturday in late April, providing a concise picture of ongoing safety operations.
He shared through a Telegram channel that more than 3,000 residents had been evacuated from 17 apartment buildings as a precautionary measure designed to minimize risk during the eventual neutralization of the device.
The device was located near building number 15 on Shalandina Street, roughly 100 meters from the site of the April 20 explosion, creating a critical perimeter for responders and residents alike.
“The operation center has decided to evacuate 17 apartments within a 200-meter radius”, the Belgorod governor reported, outlining the scope of the protective zone and the commitment to swift action where safety margins were necessary.
Residents from several houses on Shalandina, Gubkin, and Vatutin streets were relocated to temporary shelters as part of a broad precautionary measure to ensure clear access for emergency teams and reduce exposure to potential hazards.
All evacuated homes were to be guarded by police, and assurances were given that water supply and hot meals would be provided to those displaced, underscoring the focus on humane, practical support during the operation.
Telegram channels linked with the regional administration indicated that a regional state of emergency had been declared, with all emergency services actively involved in the response and coordination efforts across agencies.
Another Telegram update noted that the evacuation expanded beyond the nearest houses. Traffic in the area was halted, and the water supply was temporarily shut off to maintain a secure perimeter around the bomb site and ensure the safety of responders and the public.
Officials stated that the bomb had been buried seven meters underground and was carefully excavated. The appropriate military unit planned to transport the FAB-500 munition to the site for neutralization, indicating a staged, professional approach to handling the ordnance.
Earlier, search teams faced obstacles when groundwater interfered with the detection of unexploded ordnance. The search for a second munition began the day prior on Shalandina Street, according to local outlets, highlighting the persistent challenges in such operations.
Water intrusion during digging impeded immediate detection of the FAB-500, a local source described, illustrating how groundwater can complicate the process and require adaptive techniques and patience.
According to another Telegram channel, the aerial bomb initially struck a high-rise building when it descended from an aircraft. It reportedly damaged balconies on three floors before embedding deeper into the ground, according to a witness named Metin, offering a personal account amid the broader emergency response.
Meanwhile, the regional Emergency Situations Directorate reported that the ammunition assessed in Belgorod was not classified as explosive based on expert review, adding a layer of reassurance amid the tense situation and helping to guide decisions about containment and removal.
Gladkov later announced that the bomb had been secured and removed from the housing zone, allowing residents to begin returning to their homes in a measured, orderly fashion and signaling a return to normalcy as safety protocols remained in place for a period of transition.
On Thursday, April 20, Belgorod experienced a powerful explosion near the intersection of Vatutin and Gubkin avenues, just south of the city center, according to local witnesses who described a large crater forming in the area. Video captured by residents showed the impact site with debris scattered across the road and nearby land, and a nearby supermarket suffered damage as a result of the blast, underscoring the broader impact on the community and daily life.
Witnesses described a crater several meters deep, with reports of debris and a car allegedly displaced by the blast wave landing atop the supermarket roof in one account. The defense ministry of Russia attributed the incident to an abnormal aerial release of ammunition during a Su-34 flight over Belgorod, explaining that the munition landed unusually at the site of the event and prompting a swift, coordinated response from military and civil authorities alike.
In the days that followed, officials continued to monitor the situation, coordinate shelter arrangements, and work to restore normal services for residents affected by the episode. The emphasis remained on safety, clear communication with the public, and a quick, orderly return to everyday life for those who could do so without risk, with authorities ready to assist as needed and to adjust plans if further actions were required.