Belgorod, August 9, 2026 – The Europe Today: At least 13 people, including two children, were injured after Ukrainian drones struck residential areas in Belgorod, western Russia, acting regional Governor Aleksandr Shuvayev said on Sunday.
Shuvayev said a four-year-old boy was hospitalized with shrapnel wounds to his chest following what he described as a large-scale attack targeting civilian areas. He said at least four apartment buildings were damaged in the strikes.
According to the regional authorities, a private house and two cars also caught fire, while an administrative building and several social and commercial facilities were targeted.
Videos circulating on social media showed extensive damage to residential buildings in the city. One drone reportedly struck near the roof of a high-rise residential complex, damaging several apartments.
Belgorod Region, which borders Ukraine, has repeatedly been targeted by drone and missile attacks since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The reported incident comes amid an intensification of Ukrainian strikes deeper inside Russian territory in recent months. Ukrainian forces have targeted energy infrastructure, warehouses and other facilities in an effort to disrupt Russia’s military and logistical capabilities.
Ukraine has also carried out operations aimed at disrupting supply routes to Crimea, with reports of strikes affecting civilian transport.
Russian authorities have repeatedly condemned Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory, describing strikes against civilian areas as acts of terrorism. Moscow has also accused Western countries supplying Ukraine with drone components of contributing to attacks that it says put civilians at risk.
Ukraine has maintained that its long-range strikes are intended to target Russian military, energy and logistical infrastructure used in the war.
