A Russian border region is taking steps to evacuate approximately 9,000 children due to continuous shelling from the Ukrainian side. The conflict, which has persisted for over two years, has prompted Kyiv's forces to target areas beyond the established front line.
The children are set to be relocated further east, away from the volatile Ukraine border, as announced by the governor of Russia's Belgorod border region. This decision follows Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent statement expressing the Kremlin's intention to establish a buffer zone to safeguard border regions from long-range Ukrainian attacks and incursions.
Incidents of violence have resulted in casualties, with three individuals sustaining injuries in an attack on the Belgorod region. Among the wounded was a 14-year-old who underwent an amputation procedure, while his mother suffered serious injuries in the same assault.
Tragically, a separate attack claimed the lives of four members of a family in the village of Nikolskoe in Belgorod. The grandmother, mother, her partner, and a 17-year-old son lost their lives when a missile struck their residence.
Both sides have reported military actions, including the downing of two Ukrainian drones over Belgorod and another over the neighboring Voronezh region. The Russian defense ministry did not provide specific details regarding any resulting damage or casualties.
Furthermore, Russia utilized S-300 missiles in an attack on the city of Selydove in eastern Donetsk, Ukraine, leading to injuries and property damage. In a separate incident, Russian strikes in Donetsk resulted in one fatality and one injury, according to regional authorities.
It is important to note that independent verification of the claims made by either side regarding the conflict remains challenging. The situation in the region continues to escalate, with ongoing military engagements and civilian casualties.
For more updates on the conflict in Ukraine, visit AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine.
