Belgorod in Crisis: Schools and Shops Closed After Ukrainian Bombardments
MOSCOW — The city of Belgorod in Russia is reeling after recent bombardments, with shops and schools forced to shut down due to the escalating conflict with Ukraine.
Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported two fatalities as the violence coincides with the ongoing general election, in which Vladimir Putin is expected to secure another term in office.
Air defense systems successfully intercepted eight Ukrainian missiles, according to Gladkov. Putin has directly accused Ukraine of attempting to sabotage his reelection campaign.
In response to the attacks, students in Belgorod, situated near the Ukrainian border, will be staying home from school on Monday and Tuesday. Shopping centers in the city will also remain closed on Sunday and Monday, as announced by Governor Gladkov.
Tragically, one woman lost her life in a car park while walking her dog with her son. The son is currently fighting for his life, as medics work tirelessly to save him, as stated by the governor.
Social media images depict a car park engulfed in smoke and flames, highlighting the intensity of the attacks on Belgorod. The city has been a target for retaliatory strikes from Kyiv.
The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed causing damage in the border regions of Ukraine, as well as in Belgorod and Kursk.
Meanwhile, in the Samara region southeast of Moscow, Governor Dmitry Azarov reported Ukrainian drones targeting two oil refineries. One refinery in Syzran was set ablaze, but fortunately, there were no casualties.
According to a Ukrainian source speaking to Reuters, the Ukrainian intelligence agency struck three Rosneft refineries in the Samara region. Kyiv has not commented on the attacks in Belgorod.
Despite the ongoing chaos, the election is expected to secure Putin another six years in power, as critics denounce the process as neither free nor fair. Opposition candidates critical of Russia’s actions in Ukraine have been barred from running, with Putin’s main critic, Alexei Navalny, tragically passing away last month.
Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has called for opposition supporters to protest at polling stations to voice their dissent against the election process.
Acts of vandalism marred the voting process, with incidents of dye being poured into ballot boxes and polling stations being targeted with various disruptive actions.
Despite the challenges, Russian citizens remain resilient in the face of intimidation tactics. “They try to scare us, but this is not a nation that can be intimidated,” said 68-year-old Elena Kirsanova.
On a separate note, the ruling United Russia party faced a large-scale hacking attack on its website, further adding to the turmoil surrounding the election process.
Voting is underway across Russia, spanning multiple time zones and lasting until Sunday. The election results are expected to confirm Putin’s continued leadership, despite the widespread criticism of the electoral process.
