Ukraine war: Some residents leave Belgorod after deadly attacks

BBC News:

Russia has started moving some residents from the city of Belgorod following deadly attacks by Ukraine.

On Friday, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said several families had left the city – which is close to Ukraine’s border.

Last weekend, 25 people were killed and more than 100 injured in one of the deadliest attacks on Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

The attack followed a recent huge wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine, which killed dozens and injured over 160.

Those strikes were described by Kyiv as Russia’s biggest missile bombardment of the war so far.

• Russians find no shelter in border city near Ukraine

Writing on Telegram on Friday, Mr Gladkov said he had seen appeals on social media by people saying, “We are scared, help us get to a safe place.”

“Of course we will! We have already moved several families,” he said.

The governor said residents would be taken to the towns of Stary Oskol and Gubkin where they could stay “for as long as necessary”.

However, he said not everyone could be accommodated there, so he would ask colleagues from other regions to help.

The governor later posted a warning of a possible missile attack and urged residents to head home or into shelters.

Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of being behind drone strikes in recent months.

Kyiv rarely admits to such attacks across the border, although it has carried out such strikes before.