Due to escalating shelling in the border region of Belgorod, where the situation was deemed “alarming” by the Kremlin, Russia announced it was evacuating hundreds of children from settlements.
Over a year into its fight in Ukraine, Russia has experienced an increase in attacks on its land, including an unusual incursion last week in the southern region of Belgorod and a drone attack on Moscow on Tuesday.
“We are starting today to evacuate children from the Shebekino and Graivoron districts,” regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram, referring to the most affected border areas.
The first 300 kids, according to the governor, would be sent to Voronezh, which is located around 250 kilometers (155 miles) more into Russia.
Near Voronezh, a reporter for state-run RIA Novosti reported that buses had arrived with about 150 passengers on board.
Gladkov reported additional daytime shelling in the village of Shebekino, where he said the situation was “worsening” but no one was hurt.
He had posted photos of the aftermath of an early morning strike, with blackened burned cars lying in the grass near a playground, and a rocket that had apparently landed on a road.
“Nobody, thank God, died,” Gladkov said, adding that the strike injured four people.
On Tuesday one person was killed and two others were wounded in a Ukrainian strike on a centre for displaced people in the region.
The attacks have come as Kyiv says it is preparing for a major offensiveagainst Moscow’s forces.
