At least five killed and dozens wounded in drone strikes on Belgorod

At least five people were killed and 25 injured — among them a four-year-old child — after drone strikes struck the Russian border region of Belgorod on 9 August 2026. Authorities say residential and public buildings were hit, leaving multiple structures damaged.

“The Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case in connection with a terrorist act following the attack on Belgorod by Ukrainian armed formations. On 9 August (2026), Ukrainian armed formations used unmanned aerial vehicles to attack civilian targets in Belgorod, including residential buildings, several administrative buildings and social infrastructure facilities. The attack resulted in casualties and injuries, and among the injured are children,” said Svetlana Petrenko, spokesperson for the Russian Investigative Committee.

Damage and official counts

Local reports indicate 29 apartment buildings and five private houses sustained damage. In addition, several administrative and commercial facilities were affected, officials said.

The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that, overnight, 153 Ukrainian drones were shot down over various areas, including Crimea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

The authorities’ statements frame the incident as an attack on civilian targets; investigations and emergency response work are reportedly under way in Belgorod as officials assess the extent of the damage and casualties.

Photo: press material from the event