Russia's Belgorod Region In State Of Emergency After Ukraine Attack

MOSCOW, Aug 14 (Bernama-dpa) -- The Russian border region of Belgorod declared a state of emergency on Wednesday as Ukrainian forces continued to advance on Russian territory, reported the German news agency (dpa).

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov described the situation as  "extremely difficult and tense" as border areas come under drone and missile fire from Ukraine.

The Russian Ministry of Defence said its forces repelled 117 drone attacks and destroyed four tactical missiles. Russian military airfields are also said to have been attacked.

Following the invasion of Ukrainian troops over a weed ago, the Kursk region declared a state of emergency of national importance, which is one level higher than the state of emergency that is now in effect in neighbouring Belgorod.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday said his country's forces have seized dozens of Russian localities in Kursk region.

Belgorod has been under attack from the Ukrainian side for an extended period, frequently experiencing daily cross-border shelling.

Pro-Ukrainian forces even engaged in combat inside Belgorod last year, resulting in a number of deaths and significant destruction. In that case, volunteer battalions consisting of Russians fighting on the Ukrainian side claimed responsibility for the assaults.

Last week, Ukrainian soldiers were briefly present in the village of Poroz in the Belgorod region, where they recorded a video.

Following a visit to the region, Gladkov said that residents had been liberated and the soldiers had left again.

The state of emergency now allows for the release of additional funds for the protection of the population, he said.

The Ukrainian armed forces once again reported numerous drone attacks from the Russian side overnight. It said 17 out of 23 attacks were repelled.

-- BERNAMA-dpa