A Ukrainian attack on the southwestern Russian city of Belgorod late on Friday resulted in five deaths and 46 injuries, according to the local governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov. The attack, the latest in a string of strikes on Belgorod in recent months, left 37 people hospitalized, including seven children.
A video circulating on social media purportedly captured the moment of the attack. The footage, filmed from inside a vehicle, shows a car exploding while traveling on a road. Seconds later, another explosion occurs a few meters away. While Reuters couldn’t immediately verify the authenticity of the video, it offers a glimpse into the harrowing events.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, calling it a “brutal terrorist attack” and urging international condemnation. The ministry also reiterated its commitment to the “special military operation,” claiming it would continue until Ukraine’s “demilitarization and de-nazification” are achieved. Russia’s Investigative Committee announced the opening of a criminal case into the incident.
Further reports indicate that a woman was injured on Saturday during Ukrainian shelling of the border town of Shebekino in the Belgorod region.
In recent months, Ukraine has launched frequent attacks on Belgorod and other Russian border regions, with Belgorod emerging as the primary target. Both Ukraine and Russia maintain they do not intentionally target civilians in the war, which began in February 2022, when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.
