Emergency measures for residents near the border
In light of ongoing tensions, residents living along the border in the Belgorod region have been urged to consider temporary relocation. Gennady Bondarev, head of the Grayvoronsky urban district, addressed local residents via his official Telegram channel, stating that the situation remains tense and stressing that the safest option is to move away from border zones while conditions are assessed.
Bondarev noted that colleagues in the Yaroslavl region are prepared to welcome displaced Grayvoron residents. He added that authorities were working to distribute food supplies as logistics and security conditions permit, and he urged residents not to put themselves or their families at unnecessary risk.
Injuries and damage from a recent strike
Authorities reported that five people were injured during a fresh attack in the Belgorod region. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed the incident, describing damage to nearly 30 flats across six apartment buildings and noting the danger posed by several balconies that could collapse. The official emphasized the need for caution and the ongoing assessment of secure evacuation routes for residents.
Belgorod Arena attacked
Belgograd Arena, the home venue for the Belogorye men’s volleyball team playing in the national league, with a capacity of about ten thousand, experienced an assault. The administrative building sustained significant damage, including shattered glass that affected roughly a fifth of the structure. Equipment inside the complex was heavily damaged, according to Yuri Chernikov, the institution’s director, as reported by Interfax. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among staff or athletes because everyone had already left the area. All events scheduled at the arena were canceled in response to the damage.
Reports from Governor Gladkov indicated that the roof structure and floor coverings suffered impact, with additional windows at a nearby educational facility also broken. In Belgorod, electrical infrastructure was affected, leaving around five thousand residents without power and damaging ten vehicles. In nearby villages, private homes sustained various levels of damage, including the village of Dubovoe and the village of Maisky where several houses and vehicles were impacted. A fence was damaged in Novaya Derevnya, and fragments from shells or projectiles were found in Maiskoye’s parking area, though no injuries were recorded there. Local emergency services have been deployed to the affected zones as authorities coordinate recovery efforts.
Early morning reports stated that Russian air defense systems intercepted and shot down ten rockets over the Belgorod region, according to the Ministry of Defense. The incident underscores the ongoing risk to civilian infrastructure and the importance of rapid response measures to protect residents.
Counterterrorism operation in Valuyki
Law enforcement agencies reported that a male member of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a group listed as a terrorist organization by Russia, was detained while allegedly preparing an attack against Russian military personnel in Belgorod. The Public Affairs Center of the FSB released statements detailing the capture and the ongoing investigation.
During interrogation, footage released by the FSB indicated the suspect had contacted members of a Ukrainian intelligence service via the WhatsApp messaging platform in February 2024. He admitted assisting those contacts by providing coordinates of Russian troop positions and later joined the Russian Volunteer Corps. The detainee allegedly planned to execute a terrorist attack in Valuiki under the group’s direction with explosives.