Belgorod crisis: Thousands flee as Russia deploys heavy bombs
Due to heavy shelling and the activity of saboteurs, thousands of residents of border villages around Graivoron in the Belgorod region of Russia were urged to evacuate their homes, based on unofficial reports by the Russian channel Belgorod No. 1 on Telegram. In the meantime, online videos have surfaced showing the Russian army trying to fend off the intruders at any cost, even resorting to using aerial bombs weighing around half a ton, which have left Russian villages in ruins.
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For a week, the border areas of the Belgorod region have faced continuous shelling from Ukraine, and diversionary units composed of Russian volunteers fighting alongside Kyiv—the "Freedom of Russia" Legion, the Siberian Battalion, and the Russian Volunteer Corps—have been active in the region.
On Tuesday, the Belgorod region authorities announced that since 20 March, access to the Graivoron area near the Ukrainian border, where some residents had already been partially relocated, has been limited. Checkpoints have been established at the entrances to the villages, allowing residents brief visits to their homes for essential tasks such as feeding animals.
Additionally, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced the evacuation of nine thousand children from Belgorod and the region's border areas.
Evacuation Ordered
On Wednesday morning, the channel Belgorod No. 1 on Telegram reported that the local authorities had urged thousands of residents in the area to evacuate. This has yet to be confirmed by official Russian agencies.
However, a few days prior, Ukrainian military intelligence had already reported the evacuation of Graivoron after intercepting a conversation between a local resident and a police officer discussing the situation.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that "authorities are working to improve security in the region." - "There are various ways to do it. The task is challenging, but we will achieve it," he said, praising the bravery of residents in the border regions.
Bombing Their Own Villages
Putin also promised to do everything possible to assist those who have lost their homes due to the conflict in the Belgorod region. And there will likely be many. The Russian army's approach to combating saboteurs with its characteristic Soviet "flourish" is clear, as seen in a video from Kozinka—a village on the very border with Ukraine. Aerial bombs weighing around half a ton (FAB-500) were deployed against the saboteurs.
If the situation does not improve, the entire Graivoron area could soon be reduced to ruins and rubble.
Source: Telegram/Ukrainian Truth
