Governor of Belgorod reports death of two women in Ukrainian bombings — RT in French

In recent days, the Belgorod region, especially its localities located closest to the Ukrainian border, has been hit by fire of an unprecedented intensity since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine at the end of February 2022.

More than 500 cannon, mortar or multiple rocket launchers fired by the Ukrainian army, including more than 370 in and around the Russian town of Chebekino, on Friday alone, the region’s governor reported on Telegram, Vyacheslav Gladkov that hundreds of civilians fled.

Gladkov further announced on June 3 that one more person had died in Friday’s strikes, bringing the death toll to five. Authorities said at least 27 people were injured. Later in the day, the governor also indicated that an elderly lady had died during a bombardment in Novaya Tavolzhanka, and that a woman had been killed in Bezlyudovka.

The attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces have disrupted the lives of the local population. 600 children were sent to summer camps in Kaluga and Yaroslav.

Igor Kourachenko, a reporter for RT in French, traveled to Belgorod to assess the situation.

Yevgeny Prigojine, the boss of the private Wagner military company, victorious in Bakhmout, assured that he was ready to send his units to defend the Russian region of Belgorod. “If the (Russian) Ministry of Defense does not stop what is happening in the Belgorod region (…) where Russian territories are in fact being captured, then obviously we will happen,” said Prigozhin, whose provocative outbursts at the command of the regular army have become commonplace. “We will defend our (…) Russian people and all those who live there,” he added in an audio message published by his press service.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on June 1 that it repelled a land attack from Ukraine in the region with its air force and artillery. In Mariinka, in the Donbass, the Chechen battle Akhmat went on the offensive.