A series of drone strikes by Ukraine targeted the Belgorod region in Russia on Tuesday, resulting in injuries to at least 16 people, as reported by the area’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov. Among those hurt were a doctor and a paramedic, with eight individuals requiring hospitalization.
The Russian defense ministry indicated that its forces managed to shoot down 12 drones launched by Ukraine overnight, with three falling over Belgorod. However, the ministry did not clarify how many drones were sent in total by Ukraine.
Currently, there has been no response from Ukraine, and both countries have denied intentionally harming civilians amid the ongoing conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In related news, a fire broke out at an industrial facility following the drone attack, but Russian authorities stated that the situation is now under control.
On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin of Russia called for direct discussions with Ukraine. He described a recent call for a 30-day ceasefire from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his European partners as an ultimatum. Zelenskiy expressed his willingness to attend talks in Istanbul, provided that Putin is present, and also encouraged former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has shown interest in participating, to join the conversation.
