Reports from Belgorod and the surrounding Belgorod region describe a tense night as air defense systems were activated to counter incoming threats. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov conveyed details through his Telegram channel, noting that a number of air targets were intercepted while approaching the city, and that control centers were actively responding to the situation.
The official bulletin indicated that the air defense network in the Belgorod region had been on high alert throughout the night, successfully intercepting several missiles. The Ministry of Defense later confirmed that duty crews shot down two Tochka-U missiles along with seven missiles from the Vilkha MLRS, underscoring the intensity of the air threat facing the area.
Earlier in the evening, Ukrainian forces conducted strikes aimed at Belgorod’s center. Information circulating on social media channels described damage in Cathedral Square and along Gazhansky Boulevard as well as on Bohdan Khmelnytsky Street and a store building on Popov Street. Eyewitness accounts and media sources noted vehicle fires in the city center and reported that the Mayak shopping center district, which hosts festive events and houses regional government facilities, was among the targets of the operation.
In response to the events, Belgorod’s government announced the cancellation of planned public festivities. The regional administration intensified operations, moving to a 24-hour continuous mode to manage the fallout and coordinate emergency measures for residents and infrastructure in the affected areas.
On the international stage, the United Nations condemned the attack on civilian infrastructure and civilians, labeling it a breach of international humanitarian law. The UN called for immediate condemnation and cessation of hostilities against noncombatants and critical civilian facilities, reiterating the obligation of all parties to protect civilians in conflict zones (UN).
Meanwhile, statements from the United States Department of State reflected ongoing diplomatic responses to the cross-border shelling, highlighting concerns about civilian safety and the broader regional instability sparked by the latest strikes (U.S. State Department).