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Belgorod: Shelling in Russian border region kills two, governor says | Belgorod: Shelling in Russian border region kills two, governor says |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Russia has blamed recent shelling in Belgorod on Ukraine - a claim denied by the government in Kyiv | |
Two women have been killed in shelling by Ukrainian forces in the Russian border region of Belgorod, its governor has said. | |
Vyacheslav Gladkov said the victims were hit by shrapnel as they were travelling in a car near the village of Maslova Pristan. | Vyacheslav Gladkov said the victims were hit by shrapnel as they were travelling in a car near the village of Maslova Pristan. |
Officials in the neighbouring Bryansk and Kursk regions said buildings had been damaged in shelling and an overnight drone attack. | Officials in the neighbouring Bryansk and Kursk regions said buildings had been damaged in shelling and an overnight drone attack. |
Ukraine has so far not commented. | |
However Kyiv has denied involvement in previous attacks across the border, which it says are carried out by Russian anti-government groups. | However Kyiv has denied involvement in previous attacks across the border, which it says are carried out by Russian anti-government groups. |
In Belgorod, Mr Gladkov said two men travelling in another car had been seriously wounded in the shelling. | |
He added that nine people had been injured in the region in the past 24 hours. | |
Meanwhile, one of the most prominent anti-Kremlin paramilitary groups, the Liberty of Russia Legion (FRL), said it had been engaging in military operations in the nearby village of Novaya Tavolzhanka. | |
In a post on social media on Friday morning, it said two civilians had been killed after the Russian artillery mistook their vehicle for a car containing FRL members. | |
The FRL said "active fighting" continued on the outskirts of Novaya Tavolzhanka, admitting that there were injured "legionnaires". | |
Neither claim has been independently verified. | Neither claim has been independently verified. |
Long-range drones also hit two towns in the Smolensk region, the local governor there said, while the Kaluga region's head said an explosion had been reported in a forest. | |
Recent weeks have seen an increase in cross border attacks by the FRL and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), another paramilitary group. | |
Last month, the two groups carried one of the most significant incursions - targeting the border towns of Shebekino and Grayvoron - since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. | |
Who are the fighters infiltrating Russia from Ukraine? | Who are the fighters infiltrating Russia from Ukraine? |
What do we know about drone attacks in Russia? | What do we know about drone attacks in Russia? |
On Friday, Ukrainian officials said air defences had shot down about 30 missiles and drones fired by Russia - which has launched more than 20 missile and drone attacks against Ukraine over the past month. | |
Speaking from Helsinki on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Russia's invasion of Ukraine "a strategic failure". | |
America's top diplomat was speaking during a visit to Finland, Nato's newest member, as part of a series of trips to Nordic countries. | |
He said the invasion had weakened Russia diplomatically, economically and militarily while strengthening the European Union, Nato and Ukrainian national identity. | He said the invasion had weakened Russia diplomatically, economically and militarily while strengthening the European Union, Nato and Ukrainian national identity. |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Russia-Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war |
Russia | Russia |