Explosions rock several Russian regions bordering Ukraine

Explosions were heard overnight in Russia’s Kursk Region, regional governor Roman Starovoyt said on Telegram.

“We are currently verifying the details of the incident. Preliminary data suggests that air defence systems were operational. There are no casualties. No damage was done,” he said. On Monday, the governor prolonged the “yellow” terrorist threat level in the Kursk Region until May 11 due to “possible provocations of the Ukrainian side.”

Explosions were also reported in the village of Staraya Nelidovka of Russia’s Belgorod Region, regional head Vyacheslav Gladkov said. “Preliminary data suggests that an ammunition depot is on fire. There is no damage to residential buildings. There are no injuries among the civilian population.”

Two explosions were also heard in Voronezh, a city with over a million residents in southern Russia. The blasts took place in the city’s Shilovo district, located near the Russian air base Baltimor, about 300 kilometres (180 miles) from the Ukrainian border, local officials informed. Emergency workers and investigative officials are currently working on the scene.

Russian state news agency TASS reported earlier that air defence systems were operational in Voronezh’s Shilovo district at about 04:40 am Moscow time, with aircrafts scrambled twice in the reported period.

Later, Governor of Voronezh Region Alexander Gusev informed that air defence units had destroyed a surveillance drone in the sky over Voronezh.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russian regional officials have reported several attacks on border checkpoints. On April 26, Governor of the Belgorod Region Vyacheslav Gladkov informed that the village of Golovchino had been shelled by Ukrainian forces.

On April 25, Gladkov said that another village in the region, Nekhoteevka, was shelled by Ukraine, adding that residential buildings and several vehicles were damaged in the attack. No casualties were reported. On the same day, Kursk regional officials stated that Russian air defence units had taken down two Ukrainian drones in the village of Borovskoye.

Last week, a Kursk Region facility belonging to the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) caught fire as a result of shelling. Criminal proceedings were launched over this incident.