• Air attack on Russia’s Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine, claimed seven lives and injured 35.
• Ukraine has repeatedly targeted the region since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
• In December, a drone and rocket attack claimed 25 lives and injured another 100 in Belgorod.

An air attack on Russia’s Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine, claimed the lives of seven people and left at least 35 injured. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov attributed the strike to Ukrainian forces, alleging that they used drones to target minibusses transporting workers to a meat production facility, as well as a private car.

Mr. Gladkov reported that Ukrainian forces had targeted several other locations in the Belgorod region in the last 24 hours, causing damage to residential buildings. Since Russia commenced its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian forces have frequently targeted the Belgorod region with attacks.

In December, a drone and rocket attack claimed the lives of 25 people and injured another 100 in the city of Belgorod, marking the deadliest strike to date.

In March, Mr. Gladkov announced the evacuation of 9,000 children from the city and the wider region following shelling attributed to Ukraine by authorities.

During an overnight bombardment, Russia targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, damaging a facility in the northern Sumy region, which borders the Belgorod region.

According to Ukraine’s energy ministry, more than 400,000 people were left without power due to the attack. Local authorities reported that they partially restored power by morning.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Russia is amassing troops in Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk, preparing for an offensive operation against northeastern Ukraine and the city of Kharkiv.

Quoting a Ukrainian military observer, the ISW stated that the Russian military has assembled approximately 50,000 personnel. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly cautioned that Russia is preparing to launch an attack to seize Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

On Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that it had initiated preparations for missile drills to simulate the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.

Tactical nuclear weapons, which are small nuclear warheads and delivery systems designed for battlefield use or limited strikes, were specified in the statement.

TASS news agency reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered the drills, expecting them to take place “soon” and involve missile formations, air forces, and naval forces.

The Ministry stated that it decided to conduct the drills in response to “provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials against the Russian Federation.”

Although the officials were not named, Russia has consistently criticized remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding potential intervention by NATO troops in Ukraine.

Russia also expressed anger towards comments made last week by the UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, who suggested that Ukraine could utilize British weapons for strikes within Russia.

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