Belgorod Announces Volunteer Community Involvement and Regional Security Measures
Authorities in Belgorod have confirmed the formation of a voluntary community group comprised of local residents. The announcement came from the mayor’s office on Tuesday, April 12, outlining how volunteers may assist in keeping streets safe on evenings and nights while supporting police efforts to preserve public order.
Officials noted that the volunteers must be at least 18 years old, possess a clean criminal record, and have no medical conditions that would restrict participation. For those interested in joining the volunteer team, standard documentation is required. Applicants should provide a certificate of no criminal record, a narcologist clearance, a psychiatric clearance, copies of a passport, social security number, tax identification number, and recent photos. This information was released by the regional administration’s press service and cited by news agencies.
Since February 24, Belgorod region has bordered Ukraine as part of a broader security context involving a special military operation conducted by Russian armed forces. In a statement to the press, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod region, indicated that the number of volunteer groups dedicated to protecting socially important facilities would grow, particularly in border districts. He said volunteer teams have already begun operations in 47 border settlements near Ukraine.
Raising Awareness on Security Threat Levels
On April 1, an oil depot in Belgorod experienced a fire, which officials from the Russian Ministry of Defense attributed to an airstrike carried out by two Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopters. Reports of air and artillery attacks on several settlements near Belgorod followed on the same day. In response to these events, regional authorities raised the terrorism threat level to a heightened or yellow category, effective through April 25. Residents were advised to stay alert and carry identification documents at all times.
Similar precautionary measures were announced by the administrations of Bryansk, Kursk, Voronezh, and the Crimean peninsula, indicating a coordinated regional approach to security given the evolving risk landscape.
Rail Infrastructure Under Scrutiny
During Tuesday morning briefings, Vyacheslav Gladkov reported damage to railway tracks in the Shebekinsky urban district. He stressed that there were no reported injuries, and described the incident as a disruption affecting the rail corridor. A dedicated task force was deployed to the scene, with further explanations planned for later updates on Telegram channels and official releases.
Officials noted that the affected line serves the Belgorod-Nezhegol railway route, where the train had halted at Razumnoe station. A decision was made to substitute rail travel with a free bus service that runs in parallel with the train timetable until restoration of the railway line. Passengers could complete their journeys via bus connections curated to align with the train schedule. Investigators from the regional response teams are actively examining the cause of the damage to determine the next steps and ensure service reliability in the interim.
Across the response spectrum, teams are coordinating efforts to understand the incident, safeguard the traveling public, and maintain continuity of essential transport services in the face of infrastructure challenges.