In Belgorod, a brave moment was recorded when a cat named Archie shielded his owner from shrapnel during a bombardment. The report came from REN TV, noting the cat’s quick actions helped protect the person in his care. The owner described how Archie woke him as the shelling began and kept positioning himself between the danger and the man, acting as an improvised guardian in the chaos. A veterinarian treated the cat after the incident, removing the fragment that had lodged in Archie’s body. Officials stated that Archie’s condition improved and that his life was not in danger. REN TV documented the event and the veterinary update as the situation continued to unfold in Belgorod.
The events followed a period when Ukrainian forces were reported to have based nearby in the village of Oktyabrsky near Belgorod and deployed explosive devices. Authorities reported that four unmanned aerial vehicles were used to drop explosives in the area, an action that drew immediate responses from regional officials. The regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov conveyed the information, noting that while no residents were harmed, critical infrastructure including electricity and natural gas lines sustained damage. Emergency teams were mobilized to begin reconnecting affected subscribers and restore services as quickly as possible. According to updates from the governor, repair work was expected to proceed with urgency given the scale of the disruption.
On the morning of March 17, local authorities confirmed that approximately ten villages in the Belgorod region experienced power outages due to the bombardment by Ukrainian forces. The report highlighted the broader impact on the region’s infrastructure and the resilience required from residents and responders alike. The narrative also referenced prior appearances of Archie, noting his involvement in public observation work during another significant event in Russia, underscoring the cat’s role as a well-known symbol within the community. These details were compiled from official statements and media coverage surrounding the day’s events.