In Belgorod, Russia, “around 300” residents were evacuated amid Ukrainian attacks
“Currently, around 300 residents of Belgorod who have chosen temporary evacuation are accommodated in reception centers in Stary Oskol, Gubkin and Korotchansky districts,” further from the Ukrainian border, the governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast said on Monday. Vyacheslav Gladkov, in a video published on Telegram. The Russian city, located near the border with Ukraine, has been the target of several attacks by Ukrainian armed forces in recent days.
A covered body on the ground after a Ukrainian military attack in Belgorod, Russia, December 30, 2023. STRINGER/Portal
According to Mr. Gladkov, “We have had in the last twenty-four hours [les autorités locales ont] received 1,300 requests to send children from Belgorod to school camps outside the city, to other regions. On Friday, the official suggested residents who wished to do so should evacuate the city. This measure, unprecedented for a major city in Russia, is aimed at the Kremlin, which has consistently maintained the impression for almost two years of the attack on Ukraine that the conflict has not directly affected the daily lives and security of Russians.
A strategy that was, however, undone on December 30 when 25 people lost their lives in a Ukrainian attack in Belgorod, the highest civilian death toll on Russian soil since Moscow's offensive in the neighboring country began on February 24, 2022. Since then, The Kiev army's attacks increased, especially with rockets.
On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have “intercepted” a Ukrainian S-200 anti-aircraft missile “over Belgorod Oblast” at 7 a.m. For his part, Vyacheslav Gladkov said he had contacted his counterparts in Voronezh, Kaluga, Tambov and Yaroslavl oblasts to “help.” The official also said he would “hold a meeting” about the bombings on Monday morning.
Damaged cars in the courtyard of an apartment building after what local authorities described as a Ukrainian military attack in the city of Belgorod, Russia, photo released January 5, 2024. BELGOROD TOWN HALL/VIA Portal
In a sign of growing concern, Belgorod City Hall on Friday urged residents for the first time in two years to secure their windows to “protect” themselves from possible broken glass amid Ukrainian attacks. In this regard, the regional authorities have also postponed the start of the school year in Belgorod and its surroundings from January 9th to January 19th.