Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, reported on Tuesday that Ukrainian attacks on the border region have resulted in the deaths of over 200 civilians since February 2022, according to Reuters.
In April, the civilian death toll in Belgorod was recorded at 120. This number has risen significantly due to a spike in Ukrainian shelling and drone attacks following Russia's new offensive in Kharkiv, which originated from Belgorod Oblast.
In a video posted on Telegram, Gladkov announced restricted civilian access to 14 villages near the border, citing the increased danger from Ukrainian attacks. "I hope you will agree that it is unacceptable to let women and children into settlements that are shelled every day," Gladkov said. He emphasized the need to maximize security measures to protect civilians.
Throughout the conflict, Kyiv has targeted residential areas in Belgorod with artillery and drone attacks. The United States recently allowed Ukraine to strike Russian border regions with US-provided weapons, although there have been no reports of American-made missiles causing civilian casualties in Belgorod.
Militias aligned with Kyiv, including the neo-Nazi Russian Volunteer Corps, have conducted cross-border raids into Belgorod, equipped with NATO weaponry, including US-provided armored vehicles.
