Russian regions on Ukraine border come under fire, local authorities say

The Russian regions of Belgorod and Kursk came under fire from across the Ukrainian border in the early hours of Wednesday, according to local governors. 

Both officials blamed Ukraine for the attack — claims which have not been independently verified.

Statements from the regions’ governors say one woman was injured in the attack, which targeted the town of Valuyki in Belgorod and the village of Tyotkino in Kursk.

Belgorod’s Governor Viacheslav Gladkov said Valuyki was shelled for more than an hour, and that Russian air defenses shot down three targets and one drone. Another 12 shells from Grad multiple rocket launcher systems (MLRs) were fired at a residential area, according to Gladkov. Eight buildings and a powerline were damaged, and a woman suffered shrapnel injuries. 

Kursk’s Governor Roman Starovoit said 12 shells were fired at Tyotkino, damaging a school. 

In the last few months, Russian regions on the border with Ukraine and even further east have come under frequent shelling and drone attacks. 

Russia claims that Ukraine attacked Moscow with at least five drones on Tuesday. Kyiv rarely claims responsibility for such attacks. Following Tuesday’s events, Andriy Cherniak, a representative of the Ukrainian Military Intelligence, told POLITICO that such attacks “are the consequences of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.”