Ukrainian missile strike kills six in Russian border region – officials

Six civilians have been killed in a Ukrainian missile strike on Russia’s Belgorod Region, acting Governor Aleksandr Shuvaev has said.

The attack targeted the village of Koloskovo in the Valuysky district on Monday morning, according to the regional head. Four other people were also injured, including a 14-year-old child.

Two of the injured received medical assistance but declined hospitalization. The two others, including the teenager, were taken to the Valuysky district hospital for treatment, the official said.

A structure at the site of the strike burned down, and a passenger car was damaged, Shuvaev added.

The attack came amid a large-scale overnight Ukrainian drone raid on Russian territory. The Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted and destroyed 205 UAVs over several regions, including Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov, as well as Crimea and the Black and Azov seas.

Belgorod Region, which borders Ukraine, has been subjected to repeated missile, artillery, and drone attacks since the escalation of the conflict in 2022. In recent months, Ukraine has sharply intensified its long-range drone campaign in the region, targeting oil facilities, warehouses, residential buildings, and other civilian infrastructure deep inside Russian territory. The escalated attacks come as Kiev’s forces continue to suffer setbacks on the battlefield.

Moscow has described the strikes as terrorist attacks deliberately targeting civilians and has responded by stepping up its own long-range strikes on Ukraine’s military-industrial and logistical infrastructure.

Moscow maintains that its strikes only target military sites and infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s armed forces.