Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov has declared a state of emergency in the region, citing relentless bombardment by Ukraine. Daily shelling has resulted in destruction of homes and civilian casualties. Russia is currently battling Ukrainian forces in neighbouring Kursk, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the offensive is aimed at forcing Russia into peace, not taking territory. Russia claims to have halted the Ukrainian advance and evacuated over 100,000 Kursk residents due to the conflict. Belgorod has also come under Ukrainian drone attack, leading to building damage. Russia originally invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and currently occupies a fifth of the country’s territory, resulting in over 10,000 deaths and widespread destruction of infrastructure. The United Nations has called on Russia to end large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure. The situation remains tense and difficult in the region as both sides continue to engage in conflict.
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