Tens of thousands without power in Belgorod after Ukrainian attack

BELGOROD, Feb 27: Feb 27: About 50,000 people were left without power in the Russian city of Belgorod on Friday after Ukrainian missiles struck it overnight, the regional governor said.

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said about half of those affected should be reconnected by the end of Friday following the latest in a series of attacks that have caused repeated blackouts.

Belgorod, which lies about 40 km (25 miles) from the border with Ukraine, has been a frequent target of Ukrainian drone and missile strikes in the four years since Russia invaded its neighbour.

"Serious damage has occurred with energy infrastructure," Gladkov wrote on Telegram. "As a result, there have been disruptions to supplies of power, water and heating."

There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials. Residents of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities have frequently lost heating and power in the coldest weeks of winter because of Russian attacks on Ukraine's power grid.

Along with the neighbouring Kursk region, parts of which were seized by Ukraine in a surprise attack in August 2024 and held for many months, Belgorod has borne the brunt of Ukrainian cross-border strikes since the start of the war.    �"REUTERS