Two hours ago, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region, reported that three people have been killed and at least nine others injured in the latest Ukrainian attack. The missile strike hit the village of Maslova Pristan early Wednesday, prompting emergency responders to search for individuals believed to be trapped under the debris.
Notably, this incident marks the third consecutive day of assaults on the region, with the previous days resulting in power outages impacting thousands and at least two other fatalities. While Ukraine has not officially commented on these strikes, such attacks on locations within Russia, including Belgorod, have frequently occurred throughout the conflict.
In parallel, Russian airstrikes have contributed to power outages across various Ukrainian regions, as reported by the nation's energy regulator. The escalation comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has intensified assaults on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure amid the impending winter.
On Wednesday alone, the Belgorod region experienced extensive damage, with homes, vehicles, and infrastructures affected by a series of missile and drone attacks. The governor shared visuals depicting severe damage to local facilities, including a sports center with significant structural loss.
The conflict has seen Ukraine ramp up its offensive on Russian oil refineries, resulting in both fuel shortages and increased prices in the region. Data indicates that since January, almost 40% of Russia's major oil facilities have been targeted, which is a dramatic increase compared to the previous year.
In retaliation, Russian assaults against Ukraine continue unabated, with reports indicating that Ukraine's air defense managed to intercept a significant number of missiles and drones, while nonetheless, casualties persist on all sides. President Zelensky stated that preparations are underway to safeguard and restore power supplies in light of these persistent attacks.
