Russia’s Belgorod region is under attack again from Ukraine. Why does it keep getting targeted?
Russia’s Belgorod region is under attack again from Ukraine. Why does it keep getting targeted?
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Saturday, March 16, 2024, shows cars damaged by shelling from Ukraine in Belgorod, Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Saturday, March 16, 2024, shows damage to a flat in an apartment building after shelling from Ukraine, in Belgorod, Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Sunday, March 17, 2024, shows first responders at a burning house after shelling from Ukraine, in Belgorod, Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Monday, March 18, 2024, shows emergency employees working at a destroyed building after shelling from Ukraine, in the village of Nikolskoye, in the Belgorod region of Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod Region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Monday, March 18, 2024, shows emergency employees working at a destroyed building after shelling from Ukraine, in the village of Nikolskoye, in Russia’s Belgorod region. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod Region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
In this photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, a man looks at broken window in his house after shelling from Ukraine, in Belgorod, Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod Region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP)
FILE - In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, a Russian tank fires at Ukrainian troops from a position near the border with Ukraine in the Belgorod region of Russia. The Russian military says it has inflicted massive losses to Ukrainian forces who have launched cross-border raids into the Belgorod region. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
FILE - In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, a Russian tank fires at Ukrainian troops from a position near the border with Ukraine in the Belgorod region of Russia. The Russian military says it has inflicted massive losses to Ukrainian forces who have launched cross-border raids into the region. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
FILE - In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, a Russian tank fires at Ukrainian troops from a position near the border with Ukraine in Russia’s Belgorod region. The Russian military says it has inflicted massive losses to Ukrainian forces who have launched cross-border raids into the region. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks on a post-election visit to his campaign headquarters in Moscow, Russia, early Monday, March 18, 2024. Putin has described Ukraine’s attacks in Russia’s Belgorod region as an attempt to scare residents, saying the shelling and cross-border raids “won’t go unpunished.” (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
FILE - Russia President Vladimir Putin gestures as he speaks during a meeting with his representatives for his campaign in the Andreyevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Putin has described Ukraine’s attacks in Russia’s Belgorod region as an attempt to scare residents, saying the shelling and cross-border raids “won’t go unpunished.” (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Saturday, March 16, 2024, shows cars damaged by shelling from Ukraine in Belgorod, Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Saturday, March 16, 2024, shows cars damaged by shelling from Ukraine in Belgorod, Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Saturday, March 16, 2024, shows damage to a flat in an apartment building after shelling from Ukraine, in Belgorod, Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Saturday, March 16, 2024, shows damage to a flat in an apartment building after shelling from Ukraine, in Belgorod, Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Sunday, March 17, 2024, shows first responders at a burning house after shelling from Ukraine, in Belgorod, Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Sunday, March 17, 2024, shows first responders at a burning house after shelling from Ukraine, in Belgorod, Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Monday, March 18, 2024, shows emergency employees working at a destroyed building after shelling from Ukraine, in the village of Nikolskoye, in the Belgorod region of Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod Region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Monday, March 18, 2024, shows emergency employees working at a destroyed building after shelling from Ukraine, in the village of Nikolskoye, in the Belgorod region of Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod Region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Monday, March 18, 2024, shows emergency employees working at a destroyed building after shelling from Ukraine, in the village of Nikolskoye, in Russia’s Belgorod region. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod Region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
FILE - This photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Monday, March 18, 2024, shows emergency employees working at a destroyed building after shelling from Ukraine, in the village of Nikolskoye, in Russia’s Belgorod region. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod Region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP, File)
In this photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, a man looks at broken window in his house after shelling from Ukraine, in Belgorod, Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod Region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP)
In this photo released by Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov’s Telegram channel on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, a man looks at broken window in his house after shelling from Ukraine, in Belgorod, Russia. The region that borders Ukraine has seen a surge in Ukrainian attacks as Kyiv’s forces ramped up their strikes as the war drags into a third year. (Belgorod Region Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov Telegram channel via AP)
FILE - In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, a Russian tank fires at Ukrainian troops from a position near the border with Ukraine in the Belgorod region of Russia. The Russian military says it has inflicted massive losses to Ukrainian forces who have launched cross-border raids into the Belgorod region. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
FILE - In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, a Russian tank fires at Ukrainian troops from a position near the border with Ukraine in the Belgorod region of Russia. The Russian military says it has inflicted massive losses to Ukrainian forces who have launched cross-border raids into the Belgorod region. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
FILE - In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, a Russian tank fires at Ukrainian troops from a position near the border with Ukraine in the Belgorod region of Russia. The Russian military says it has inflicted massive losses to Ukrainian forces who have launched cross-border raids into the region. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
FILE - In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, a Russian tank fires at Ukrainian troops from a position near the border with Ukraine in the Belgorod region of Russia. The Russian military says it has inflicted massive losses to Ukrainian forces who have launched cross-border raids into the region. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
FILE - In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, a Russian tank fires at Ukrainian troops from a position near the border with Ukraine in Russia’s Belgorod region. The Russian military says it has inflicted massive losses to Ukrainian forces who have launched cross-border raids into the region. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
FILE - In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, a Russian tank fires at Ukrainian troops from a position near the border with Ukraine in Russia’s Belgorod region. The Russian military says it has inflicted massive losses to Ukrainian forces who have launched cross-border raids into the region. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks on a post-election visit to his campaign headquarters in Moscow, Russia, early Monday, March 18, 2024. Putin has described Ukraine’s attacks in Russia’s Belgorod region as an attempt to scare residents, saying the shelling and cross-border raids “won’t go unpunished.” (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks on a post-election visit to his campaign headquarters in Moscow, Russia, early Monday, March 18, 2024. Putin has described Ukraine’s attacks in Russia’s Belgorod region as an attempt to scare residents, saying the shelling and cross-border raids “won’t go unpunished.” (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
FILE - Russia President Vladimir Putin gestures as he speaks during a meeting with his representatives for his campaign in the Andreyevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Putin has described Ukraine’s attacks in Russia’s Belgorod region as an attempt to scare residents, saying the shelling and cross-border raids “won’t go unpunished.” (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
FILE - Russia President Vladimir Putin gestures as he speaks during a meeting with his representatives for his campaign in the Andreyevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Putin has described Ukraine’s attacks in Russia’s Belgorod region as an attempt to scare residents, saying the shelling and cross-border raids “won’t go unpunished.” (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
Russia’s Belgorod region has come under increasing Ukrainian attacks this month as the invasion by Moscow grinds into its third year.
A look at the region and its role in the war:
WHAT IS THE BELGOROD REGION?
The region of forests, farmland and rolling hills has a 540-kilometer (335-mile) border along Ukraine’s northeastern edge. It has an area of over 27,000 square kilometers (about 10,500 square miles), and has a population of about 1.5 million.
It holds about 40% of Russia’s iron ore and other minerals, and is home to several major industrial companies and farms.
The city of Belgorod, the provincial capital with a population of about 340,000, sits only 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of the border, making it an easy target for Ukrainian artillery.
WHAT HAS THE REGION FACED?
The region was one staging ground for the invasion by Russia in February 2022. It has come under regular Ukrainian attacks ever since Russian forces retreated there from northeastern Ukraine early in the war under the brunt of a counteroffensive by Kyiv.
An attack on the city of Belgorod on Dec. 30 marked a bloody escalation. A barrage of rockets struck on a holiday weekend as residents celebrated the New Year. Officials said 25 people were killed, including five children, and over 100 were injured.
The bloodshed also forced officials to cancel celebrations for the Orthodox feast of Epiphany on Jan. 19.
Regular rocket and drone strikes have continued since then. The area can be struck by relatively simple and mobile weapons such as multiple rocket launchers from forests on the Ukrainian side.
Border villages have faced repeated incursions backed by tanks, armored infantry vehicles and other heavy weapons. Russia claimed that it has repelled the attacks and inflicted heavy losses.
The repeated Ukrainian attacks have dealt a heavy blow to President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to reassure Russians that their daily lives are largely untouched by the war.
Russian border villages in the region have been targeted sporadically during the war by Ukrainian artillery fire, rockets, mortar shells and drones launched from dense forests, where they are hard to detect.
WHAT WAS PUTIN’S REACTION?
The cross-border shelling and incursions took place as Putin has cemented his grip on power for another six years in a highly orchestrated election this month that followed a sweeping crackdown on dissent.
Putin says the attacks are an attempt to scare residents. “I’m sure that our people, the people of Russia, will respond to that with even greater cohesion,” he said last week.
He vowed the Ukrainian cross-border attacks “won’t go unpunished,” venting particular anger at pro-Kyiv Russians who joined Ukrainian troops in the incursions, describing them as traitors who will face imminent death.
HOW HAVE BELGOROD OFFICIALS RESPONDED?
After the New Year weekend attack, authorities expanded a network of shelters in Belgorod and reinforced bus stops with concrete blocks and sandbags. The regional government also provided assistance to those wanting to leave the city and other border areas temporarily.
Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov this week ordered the evacuation of 9,000 children from the region and ordered schools closed through Friday in Belgorod and other areas near the border. Universities in the area will switch to remote learning, and clubs and cultural and sports institutions will close.
Military checkpoints were set up to control entry to six border villages.
WHAT DO UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS SAY?
Ukrainian officials rarely comment on attacks inside Russia, but they emphasize Kyiv’s right to use all means to counter Moscow’s aggression.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Tuesday that any military action there was “the direct consequence of the illegal and unprovoked aggression of Russia against Ukraine.”
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