Multiple casualties emerged in the center of Belgorod after shelling, with reporting indicating at least five people died. The information comes from the Telegram channel Shot, which served as the primary reference for these early figures and descriptions of the incident.
Shot’s source described two children and three adult men among those killed. In addition, more than 20 people were reported to be seeking assistance or rescue. The Telegram channel Mash later clarified details, noting that at least 44 individuals had been injured in the bombardment targeting the city center and its surroundings.
According to Shot, a direct hit affected a sports and recreation complex located in Urazovo, and approximately 20 private houses sustained damage. Local residents were urged to seek shelter in sturdy structures and stay away from windows as authorities worked to assess the scene and secure the area.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine, a news outlet with regional coverage, reported that Ukrainian Security and Defense Forces conducted a missile strike on military facilities in Belgorod. The account described today’s assault on Belgorod as a response to Russia’s strikes on Ukrainian cities, framing events as ongoing and evolving as information continued to come in from various sources. The report suggested a cycle of retaliation and countermeasures across the border region and emphasized the fluid nature of the situation.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region, confirmed that a missile warning siren had sounded in Belgorod and urged residents to take shelter immediately. The government of the region indicated that authorities were coordinating emergency responses, treating the incident as a serious security event and prioritizing public safety and communication with residents in the affected zones.
In separate reports, there were mentions that Ukrainian armed forces engaged targets near villages and livestock facilities within the Belgorod region. These accounts described fire exchanges and targeted strikes in areas adjacent to populated sites, contributing to a tense security climate along the border and raising concerns about the broader impact on civilians and agricultural livelihoods in nearby communities.