Russia Says It Will Evacuate 9,000 Children from Belgorod as Ukraine Steps Up Attacks on Russian Territory

Ukraine has increased attacks on Russian border regions as its been losing territory on the battlefield

The governor of Russia’s Belgorod Oblast announced Tuesday that authorities will evacuate about 9,000 children from the area as Ukraine has been stepping up attacks on Russia’s border regions.

“A large number of villages are being evacuated today. We are currently planning to evacuate about 9,000 children,” said Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, according to the Russian news agency TASS.

Gladkov said that over the past week, 16 people were killed and 98 were wounded by Ukrainian shelling in Belgorod. He said that over 130 residential houses and 60 passenger cars were damaged as a result of Ukrainian shelling over the past day. A Zoo in Belgorod that was hit by the shelling said a Kangaroo was killed.

Ukraine has increased its attacks on Russian territory as Russia has been gaining more ground on the battlefield. Russian forces have been making steady gains on the battlefield since taking the Donetsk city of Avdiivka last month.

On Tuesday, Russia said its forces took the village of Orlivka, which is about 2.5 miles west of Avdiivka.

Military situation in Ukraine on March 19, 2024 (SouthFront.press)

According to a report from The Sunday Times, Ukraine’s Western backers have advised it to focus on defending its lines on the battlefield while launching more long-range strikes against Russia. Britain’s defense minister and army chief gave that advice last week during a visit to Ukraine, saying Western long-range missiles could help with strikes on Crimea and Russia’s Black Sea fleet.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.