Blackouts hit Russia’s Belgorod as Ukrainian drone attacks surge

Residents of Russia’s Belgorod area say blackouts, air-raid sirens and the sound of gunfire geared toward incoming Ukrainian drones have gotten more and more widespread, as Kyiv retaliates towards repeated bombardments of its cities with cross-border strikes of its personal.

“It is so loud and so terrifying,” says Nina, a Belgorod resident who requested us to alter her title.

“I used to be getting back from the clinic when a siren went off. As common, I acquired Telegram alerts a few drone assault. Then bursts of automated gunfire broke out, I bumped into a close-by courtyard and tried to cover beneath an arch,” she remembers.

“The following day all of it occurred once more – air defence fireplace, automated gunfire, explosions.”

The variety of Ukrainian drone assaults on the Belgorod area has elevated almost fourfold for the reason that begin of 2025, in accordance with BBC Information Russian evaluation based mostly on knowledge from native authorities.

In September, greater than 4,000 Ukrainian drones had been recorded within the Belgorod area, in contrast with round 1,100 in January 2025. In one of many largest strikes final month, the area was attacked with greater than 260 drones, in accordance with the governor. There has additionally been a rise in missile assaults for the reason that summer season.

Ukraine continues to endure far larger losses from Russia’s near-daily missile and drone strikes, which routinely kill civilians and go away cities throughout the nation with out energy and warmth.

No less than seven individuals had been killed, together with two kids, in Russian assaults on Ukrainian cities in a single day into Wednesday, and there are fears that the approaching winter could be the harshest but for Ukraine.

Ukrainian authorities say the latest surge of assaults on Belgorod, a few of which have induced large blackouts, is a direct results of Russia’s newest onslaught on Ukraine’s power infrastructure.

“Perhaps they need to cease being too snug there in Belgorod?” Zelensky stated earlier this month. “They need to perceive: in the event that they wish to go away us with out energy, then we’ll do the identical”.

Belgorod area is a key logistics hall and staging hub for Russian forces close to the border with Ukraine. It is usually an everyday level of origin for artillery and short-range drone strikes.

Though there have been native electrical energy outages in smaller cities within the area earlier within the conflict, town of Belgorod was largely unaffected by energy cuts till this autumn.

Native pupil Ekaterina (not her actual title) informed the BBC she was at residence within the metropolis on the night of 28 September, when notifications began showing on her telephone: “Missile alert! Take shelter!”

The sound of howling sirens adopted, and the lights in her flat began flickering.

“We ran to the hall, as a result of the explosions began nearly instantly. They had been very loud. The lights blinked and went out,” Ekaterina remembers.

Missiles had hit the principle Belgorod warmth and energy plant and a substation, native Telegram channels reported.

And whereas town centre had its electrical energy again comparatively rapidly, some within the suburbs had been left with out energy till morning. Throughout the area, round 77,000 individuals, or 5% of the inhabitants, nonetheless had no electrical energy the following day.

“When you’re within the workplace within the centre, you would not essentially discover that there was a blackout. However while you’re going residence it is like getting into a complete completely different world,” one other Belgorod resident Natalya (not her actual title) tells the BBC.

“Full darkness outdoors. House blocks are with out energy, the outlets are darkish too. As you journey via the darkness, it is laborious to inform the place your cease is – you’ll be able to’t see something”.

One other massive blackout got here lower than per week later.

Authorities admit they don’t have the capability to supply everybody with back-up turbines and have referred to as on residents to purchase their very own.

“However what are we suppose to gas them with, given the gas disaster?” Maria, an aged resident who additionally requested to alter her title, tells the BBC.

Greater than half of Russia’s areas, together with Belgorod, have been affected by petrol and diesel shortages, attributable to elevated Ukrainian assaults on Russian oil refineries.

“And the costs for turbines have shot up as nicely,” Maria says.

Ukraine has elevated manufacturing of its “Darts” drone – light-weight and low cost fashions that may carry a 4kg (9lb) warhead – and plenty of Belgorod residents say that is the explanation the strikes have grow to be extra frequent. The drones are efficient each for single and mass launches which may probably overload air defence programs.

However the latest strikes on power infrastructure that induced the blackouts in Belgorod usually tend to have concerned heavier weapons. Stories say long-range Himars rockets or Morok drones with bigger warheads might need been used.

And whereas for a lot of in Russia the conflict nonetheless appears far-off, residents of Belgorod area now really feel its influence each day, like Ukrainians over the border.

“Till September, the conflict appeared to have light into the background once more. However now we’re getting fixed reminders – via energy outages, gas shortages, and a normal sense of tension”, says Yakov, who declined to offer his actual title.

“I personally have a robust feeling that, by persevering with the conflict, Russia is racing headlong towards the abyss”.

Further reporting by Ilya Abishev