Published: 03:00 PM, 05 January 2024
Russia's Belgorod struck again after schools near border kept shut
The Russian city of Belgorod was targeted by another round of Ukrainian shelling late Thursday, officials said, hours after schools in the region were ordered to extend their holiday closures due to the risk of further attacks.
At least two people were wounded in the latest shelling, Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said, as Telegram channels circulated what appeared to be images of damaged cars in the city near the Ukraine border.
"According to preliminary data, there are two victims. One man has a shrapnel wound to the forearm, the other has a shrapnel wound to the shin," he said.
"Our air defence system worked over Belgorod and the Belgorod district -- 10 air targets were shot down on approach to the city," he added.
The Kremlin has tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy on the home front, but recent deadly strikes on Belgorod have brought the Ukraine conflict closer to Russians.
A strike on the city last Saturday killed 25 people, officials said, the deadliest strike on civilians in Russia since the war began in February 2022.
Schools in several municipalities close to the Ukrainian border were ordered to extend their holidays beyond the planned winter break, Gladkov said earlier.
Russian schools have been closed this week as the country celebrates Orthodox Christmas on January 7.
"In technical colleges and universities located in these municipalities, it is recommended to hold class remotely," he continued, adding that the holidays could be further prolonged.
Belgorod city lies about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the border and has been repeatedly struck by what Moscow says is indiscriminate shelling by Kyiv's forces.
Ukraine also said it targeted a Russian command post near the Crimean port city of Sevastopol on Thursday in an aerial attack that Russia said wounded one person.
Russia's defence ministry said it repelled a Ukrainian drone attack over Crimea early Friday, destroying and intercepting 36 drones over the annexed peninsula.
