Ukrainian Drone Attack Hits Russia’s Belgorod And Causes Blackout
Residents of Russia’s Belgorod region report that as Kyiv retaliates with cross-border strikes of its own in response to repeated bombardments of its cities, blackouts, air-raid sirens, and the sound of gunfire directed at incoming Ukrainian drones are becoming more frequent.
“It’s so loud and so terrifying,” says Nina, a Belgorod resident who asked us to change her name.
“I was coming back from the clinic when a siren went off. As usual, I received Telegram alerts about a drone attack. Then bursts of automatic gunfire broke out, I ran into a nearby courtyard and tried to hide under an arch,” she recalls.
“The next day it all happened again – air defence fire, automatic gunfire, explosions.”
A BBC News Russian investigation based on data from local authorities shows that since the beginning of 2025, the number of Ukrainian drone assaults on the Belgorod region has roughly quadrupled.
The number of Ukrainian drones in the Belgorod region increased from about 1,100 in January 2025 to over 4,000 in September. The governor claims that more than 260 drones struck the area in one of the largest attacks last month. Additionally, since the summer, the number of missile assaults has increased.
Russia’s almost daily missile and drone attacks, which frequently murder civilians and leave cities all around the nation without heat or electricity, continue to cause significantly higher costs for Ukraine.
Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities overnight into Wednesday killed at least seven people, including two children, and there are concerns that this winter could be the worst yet for Ukraine.
Russia’s latest assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is directly responsible for the recent spike in attacks on Belgorod, some of which have resulted in massive blackouts, according to Ukrainian authorities.
“Maybe they should stop being too comfortable there in Belgorod?” According to Zelensky earlier this month. “They must understand: if they want to leave us without power, then we will do the same”.
The Belgorod region is a crucial staging area and supply route for Russian forces close to the Ukrainian border. Additionally, it is frequently the starting point for short-range drone and artillery attacks.
While smaller towns in the area had localised power outages earlier in the conflict, Belgorod remained relatively untouched until this fall.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russia’s most recent assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is directly to blame for the current spike in strikes on Belgorod, some of which have resulted in massive blackouts.
“Maybe they should stop being too comfortable there in Belgorod?” stated earlier this month by Zelensky. “They must understand: if they want to leave us without power, then we will do the same”.
Near the Ukrainian border, the Belgorod region serves as a crucial staging area and supply route for Russian soldiers. Additionally, artillery and short-range drone strikes frequently originate from it.
Earlier in the conflict, smaller towns in the area experienced localised power outages, but until this autumn, Belgorod remained mostly untouched.