Authorities in the southwestern Russian city of Belgorod said Wednesday they had closed large shopping malls in the city and surrounding region, citing an unspecified “operational situation” near the border with Ukraine.
“Due to an operational situation, we’re temporarily suspending the operation of large shopping centers,” Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram, without elaborating on the nature of the threat or when malls might reopen. At least 10 major malls operate in the region.
Earlier in the day, Gladkov said Ukrainian drones had damaged the regional government building and a home, though no injuries were reported. Over the past 24 hours, he added, nearly a dozen regional districts, equivalent to U.S. counties, had come under drone attack, causing property damage and at least one injury.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defense systems shot down 11 of the 122 Ukrainian drones launched into the Belgorod region overnight.
Belgorod has faced regular cross-border shelling since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as well as periodic incursions by Ukrainian forces.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
