Ukrainian air attack on Russia’s Belgorod region injured eight people and damaged scores of residential buildings and cars, the governor of the region bordering with Ukraine said on Thursday (May 8).

An 11-year-old girl was injured and taken to the hospital, according to Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod. 

He reported on the messaging app Telegram that the attack also damaged around 34 apartments in 19 buildings and about 30 vehicles in the city.

Russia’s air defence systems destroyed 15 rockets launched from the RM-70 Vampir system, and one drone over the region, stated Russia’s defence ministry.

Three drones were also downed over Russia’s Kursk region and two over the Bryansk region, the ministry said in a statement. All regions border Ukraine.

However, there was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Kyiv has said often that destroying military, energy and transport infrastructure inside Russia undermines Moscow’s overall war efforts.

Russia attacks on Ukrainian power plants

The overnight Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure caused a deficit in the grid system. Hydropower and thermal power plants were damaged in the attack. Ukraine warned of possible power shutdowns across the country, Ukraine’s grid operator Ukrenergo said on Wednesday.

The state power operator Ukrenergo also said it was limiting supplies across the country. It said in a statement, “Ukrenergo’s dispatch centre is forced to limit power supply to industry and business from 18:00 to 23:00. The scope of the restrictions will be distributed evenly among all regions.”

Russia claims to have taken control of two more frontline villages

Meanwhile, Moscow claimed to have taken control of two more frontline villages. Russian forces have increased its attacks on land and from the skies with Ukrainian troops struggling more than two years into the war. 

In the latest development, officials said that a Russian air attack hit a school stadium in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv on Wednesday. The strike injured at least four children and three adults.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia’s attack “deliberate, calculated and sneaky.”

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)