A UAV operated by the Armed Forces of Ukraine reportedly struck the village of Dolgoe in the Belgorod region, according to Vyacheslav Gladkov, head of the region. The claim appeared on Gladkov’s Telegram channel. The outskirts of Dolgoye, in Valuysky urban district, were targeted by a drone described as a kamikaze device, the governor stated. The incident caused damage to a critical infrastructure communication facility, though there were no reported casualties. Gladkov said that emergency services would begin clearing the debris and assessing the damage in the near term.
On 31 January, Ukrainian forces were said to have attacked the village of Tishanka in the Volokonovsky district using kamikaze drones. The governor’s updates indicated that such drones were deployed in the Belgorod region on multiple occasions as part of ongoing clashes near the border.
A day earlier, Gladkov reported that a kamikaze drone linked to the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly struck the village of Stary Khutor within the Valuysky urban district. The device reportedly fell and exploded in the area, causing disruption to local infrastructure and raising concerns about repeated strikes in the region.
These reports follow a broader pattern of reported drone activity in border districts, accompanied by official statements emphasizing rapid situational response and ongoing assessments. A retired Ukrainian general has been cited in various public discussions as discussing plans that involve using large numbers of drones to project power across the border, illustrating the high-stakes nature of the regional security environment. The situation underscores the persistent tension in this frontier area and the importance of robust emergency response and border monitoring efforts for affected communities.