Russia rocked by blast as ‘Ukraine launches attack’ | World | News

Russia’s Belgorod region was rocked by a drone attack overnight, an official has said, as Ukraine entered the fifth year of the unprovoked war declared by Vladimir Putin on this day in 2022. A blast erupted at a gas distribution hub on February 24 before it was enveloped by a blaze. 

The governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said a drone attack was launched on the distribution hub in the Borisovka area. Ukraine hasn’t yet commented nor claimed the attack. Russian media outlet Pepel Belgorod reported residents heard a loud explosion moments before the facility burst into flames, though local officials initially stayed silent. Authorities have since confirmed homes lost gas supplies, schools were shut and kindergartens placed on standby as emergency crews scrambled to restore services. Officials said the blaze broke out at what was described as an “infrastructure facility” after the drone strike hit the site. Emergency teams were dispatched as engineers worked to restore gas supplies to private homes in the settlement.

The head of the Borisovsky district administration, Vladimir Pereverzev, said four schools in Borisovka were forced to close following the incident.

Four kindergartens were instead placed on standby as a precaution while authorities assessed the damage.

Local authorities had not immediately commented after initial reports of the explosion, which residents said they heard moments before the fire started.

Four years ago to the day, Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, on the orders of Vladimir Putin.

Missiles struck cities across the country before troops crossed the borders from Russia, Belarus and occupied Crimea in the early hours of the morning.

The assault triggered the largest war in Europe since the Second World War and forced millions of Ukrainians to flee their homes.

Fighting has continued ever since, with both sides launching missile, artillery and drone strikes across the front line and beyond.

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Overnight, Russia launched a fresh wave of attacks on Ukraine, targeting multiple regions across the country.

Ukrainian authorities said one person was killed and six others injured in strikes on the Zaporizhzhia and Polohivskyi districts.

Kyiv’s Air Force said Moscow fired an Iskander-M ballistic missile along with 133 drones during the assault. It added 111 drones were shot down or electronically suppressed, although several strikes still hit infrastructure at multiple locations.

Regional governor Ivan Fedorov said the attacks caused damage to homes and civilian infrastructure. Among the injured was an 87-year-old man as emergency services were sent to the affected areas.

Ukrainian officials said missile strikes and 19 attack drones were recorded at 16 separate locations across the country.

Debris from another intercepted drone also fell in one area, causing additional damage.

Russia’s Belgorod region borders Ukraine’s Kharkiv area and has repeatedly come under fire during the conflict.

Moscow has accused Kyiv of cross-border strikes, while Ukraine rarely comments on attacks inside Russian territory.

The latest incidents highlight how the fighting is increasingly spilling beyond the main battlefield as the war enters its fourth year.

Both sides continue to target energy and infrastructure sites in an effort to disrupt logistics and supply lines.