Conflict Escalation in Belgorod: Drones and Shelling Persist Amid Border Tensions
Tensions escalate in Russia’s Belgorod region as clashes continue for a third day following a cross-border attack by pro-Ukrainian Russian paramilitary groups. Belgorod city faces ongoing drone strikes and shelling, intensifying the conflict.
Fighting has been ongoing in Russia’s Belgorod region for three days now. This comes after pro-Ukrainian Russian paramilitary groups initiated a cross-border attack earlier this week. Belgorod city faced heavy drone strikes and shelling on Thursday.
According to local officials, at least two individuals lost their lives in Ukrainian attacks on the region. One of the casualties was a driver who was killed when his car was hit by shelling while he was driving. Several others were also reported to have been injured in the strikes.
Video footage from Belgorod captured the chaotic scene of people driving through thick smoke on a road filled with burning and overturned cars. Additionally, footage showed buildings that had been damaged by explosions, with residents seen carrying their belongings while fleeing along a tree-lined path amidst the sounds of explosions and air raid sirens in the distance.
According to Russia's Defense Ministry, they successfully eliminated eight rocket-propelled grenades that were fired towards Belgorod. Furthermore, their air defenses were able to take down 11 Ukrainian drones over Belgorod and three more over the neighboring Kursk region.
After Ukraine launched drone strikes on three oil refineries inside Russia, a Ukraine defense source revealed that the depots in Ryazan, Kstovo, and Kirishi were targeted. These refineries are some of Russia's largest, and the strikes were seen as part of Ukraine's strategy to weaken Russian economic power before President Vladimir Putin's expected re-election.
A drone flies over Belgorod, March 14, 2024.
A drone flies over Belgorod, March 14, 2024.
Skirmishes are ongoing in villages in Belgorod and Kursk regions as pro-Ukrainian groups of Russian fighters carried out a cross-border attack on Tuesday. According to Russia's Defense Ministry, the "terrorist formations" targeted the Belgorod villages of Nekhoteevka and Spodariushino.
A group of Russian dissidents known as the Freedom for Russia Legion, who are fighting for Ukraine, recently announced that they had taken over the village of Tyotkino in the Kursk region. This group has previously been involved in incursions into Russia.
In addition to the Freedom for Russia Legion, two other groups, the Siberian Battalion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), also took credit for the attack.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, these three pro-Kyiv groups expressed their goal of "liberating" Russia from its current government. They stated that they are continuing their operations within Russia.
"The fight for freedom in the Russian regions against the oppressive Kremlin regime is ongoing. Currently, there are significant attacks being carried out against Putin's forces in the Belgorod and Kursk regions," according to the latest update.
The damaged Belgorod city hall after drone attacks on the city on Tuesday.
The damaged Belgorod city hall after drone attacks on the city on Tuesday.
Stringer/AFP/Getty Images
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In a video on Telegram, an RDK fighter reached out to the people of Belgorod and Kursk.
He expressed concern that their leaders have not taken any steps to protect or evacuate them, while the shelling of peaceful Ukrainian towns and villages persists. As a result, they have been compelled to retaliate against military targets in border areas. The fighter urged residents to evacuate without delay for their safety.
The fighter issued a warning that his group would attack military targets in two regions within an hour and a half of posting a video around 7 a.m. local time (12 a.m. ET). It is unknown what happened after this time.
Later, Russia's Defense Ministry stated that they had caused significant casualties to the sabotage groups and destroyed their military equipment in a "pre-emptive" move by Russian forces.
CNN was unable to confirm the claims made by both parties. It is uncertain how severe the clashes in border villages have been, but there has been a noticeable rise in drone strikes and shelling on Belgorod over the past week.
Last month, Ukraine’s then-army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi wrote a special essay for CNN. He explained how drones can help Ukraine steer clear of getting stuck in a long, drawn-out war with fixed battle lines and heavy casualties.
Editor's P/S:
The ongoing fighting in Russia's Belgorod region is a stark reminder of the widening conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Pro-Ukrainian Russian paramilitary groups have launched
