BELGOROD: Two civilians tragically lost their lives on Friday in a shelling incident that took place in Russia’s Belgorod region along the border with Ukraine. As Moscow’s forces continued their sixth consecutive day of attacks on Kyiv, thousands of residents from villages near the southwestern border have been forced to flee due to intensified shelling.
The town of Shebekino, which has been severely affected, has witnessed an influx of residents seeking refuge in the main city of Belgorod. The regional Military Administration reported that Russia launched 30 attacks on the border throughout the day, employing rockets, mortars, and artillery.
At Belgorod’s sports arena, which has now become a major center for displaced individuals, volunteers were observed organizing the relocation of people to smaller dormitories. Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov disclosed that temporary shelters were accommodating around 2,500 people, including those at the sports arena.
“We have never had a situation like this,” Governor Gladkov expressed to reporters at the arena, noting that the conditions were becoming cramped and prompting the relocation of displaced individuals to other locations. Belgorod mayor Valentin Demidov informed AFP that a total of 5,000 people had passed through the temporary shelters and registered in recent days, with many finding accommodation with relatives.
Tragically, earlier in the day, two women lost their lives as a result of the shelling. “Shrapnel hit cars passing by. Two women traveling in one of them died on the spot from their wounds,” the regional governor stated. He later confirmed that a total of 21 people had sustained injuries in four different areas within the region.
Russia Repels Ukraine’s Attempt to Invade Belgorod
On Thursday, the Russian defence ministry reported that their forces had utilized jets and artillery to repel a Ukrainian attempt to “invade” the Belgorod region. In response to the escalating violence along the Ukrainian border, the Kremlin has criticized the international community for its silence, despite the existence of footage describing strikes on residential buildings and social infrastructure.
The United States, while expressing non-support for attacks inside Russia, has been providing equipment and training to Kyiv to enhance its defense capabilities. Ukraine’s air defense has received reinforcements from Western equipment, including the advanced Patriot air defense systems supplied by the United States.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged on Friday that Ukraine would not be able to join NATO before the conclusion of the Russian invasion. “We are reasonable people, and we understand that we are not going to drag a single NATO country into a war,” Zelensky stated during a joint briefing with Estonian President Alar Karis. He further added, “Therefore, we understand that we will not be members of NATO while this war is going on. Not because we don’t want to, but because it’s impossible.”
Ukraine is a candidate for membership in both NATO and the European Union, but some European capitals remain cautious about establishing a formal timeline for membership given the ongoing Russian invasion. Joining NATO would entail Ukraine being covered by the alliance’s Article 5 collective defense clause, which requires member countries to provide assistance in the event of an attack.
Meanwhile, Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, has experienced almost nightly air raids in May, marking a significant escalation compared to the beginning of the year. Ukrainian authorities announced on Friday that they had successfully destroyed all 15 missiles and 21 drones from a new wave of overnight attacks, which left two people wounded in Kyiv. The chief of the capital’s city administration, Sergiy Popko, expressed concern over the increasing frequency of Russian attacks, stating, “In the last six days, they have already carried out six attacks on the city!”
Russian shelling also resulted in the deaths of two women and injuries to four others in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, according to Ukrainian officials. Additionally, two children were injured in a playground explosion in the southern region of Kherson.
The Russian defense ministry claimed that its forces targeted Ukraine’s air defense systems protecting “key” military infrastructure and that all designated targets had been hit.
Tragedies like these continue to unfold as tensions rise, and President Zelensky has emphasized the need to inspect all shelters in Kyiv to ensure the safety of the population. He vowed to hold all responsible parties accountable and issued a stern warning, saying “there may be a knockout,” which appeared to be directed at Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, a former boxer. Mayor Klitschko assured residents that measures were in place to provide around-the-clock access to shelters and advised them to seek refuge within their homes with two walls of protection if they were unable to reach a shelter promptly.
