In the Belgorod region, located about 20 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, a decision was made to shift education to remote format through the end of the current quarter. The governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, announced the measure in a public Telegram update, confirming that schooling within the district will continue online during this period.
The official statement notes that all schools within a 20-kilometer radius of the border will operate remotely for the duration of the third quarter. Authorities also indicated that in neighboring regions where holidays were extended, distance learning would start within a month, with a final decision about the education modality to be issued after February 16. The impacted areas include the provincial capital, Belgorod, along with Belgorodsky, Krasnoyaruzhsky, Borisovsky, Volokonovsky districts, as well as Grayvoronsky, Shebekinsky, Valuysky urban districts, and two villages in the Korochansky district, Melikhovo and Dalnyaya Igumenka.
Gladkov added that students in secondary vocational training programs would also continue with distance education during this period.
Earlier, the governor spoke about recent attacks by Ukrainian armed forces across the region, reporting that ten unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) strikes were recorded within the last 24 hours. The ongoing conflict has led to heightened security concerns and a precautionary shift to remote learning in several border areas.
Since the onset of the special operation in Ukraine, various Russian regions have faced regular drone activity, with the Belgorod region frequently named in official updates. Since February 24, 2022, regional authorities and the Ministry of Defense have logged numerous drone sightings in this vicinity and related districts, underscoring persistent perimeter risks around border communities.
In earlier incidents, several villages in the Belgorod region experienced power outages attributed to shelling from Ukrainian forces, further affecting daily life and local infrastructure. Local authorities have maintained that safety considerations drive decisions about schooling and civil operations during periods of elevated risk.
Residents and families across Belgorod and neighboring districts are adapting to evolving conditions while authorities monitor developments along the border. The central goal remains ensuring student safety while maintaining continuity of education wherever possible, using remote formats when on-site instruction is deemed unsafe or impractical.