The governor of Russia’s Belgorod oblast said Tuesday that Ukrainian attacks on the Russian border region have killed 120 civilians and wounded 651 people since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Belgorod has come under drone and artillery attacks throughout the war, and the Ukrainian operations have increased in recent months. Militias fighting for Kyiv, including the neo-Nazi Russian Volunteer Corps, have also launched cross-border raids into the oblast.
According to Reuters, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said 11 children were among the dead and that 51 children had been injured. In November 2023, the UN estimated that over 10,000 civilians had been killed in Ukraine since Russia invaded, including more than 560 children.
Gladkov warned residents to be on high alert as they celebrate Orthodox Easter, which will take place on Sunday, May 5. “The situation is extremely difficult. The attacks continue. People continue to die,” he said in a video message on Telegram.
Russia has reported the use of US and other Western weapons in attacks on Belgorod, which Moscow has said is an example of how NATO is directly involved in the war. The RVC is armed with NATO weaponry, including US-provided armored vehicles.
Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory always risk a significant escalation. Ukraine was targeting Russian oil refineries this year, which provoked major Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
