Russian Diplomat Says Ukrainian Forces Shelled Belgorod Region Over 1,500 Times in a Week

Ukrainian forces shelled Russia's Belgorod region more than 1,500 times over the past week, according to Rodion Miroshnik, a Russian diplomat, as reported by TASS.

Miroshnik said that 53 civilians, including two minors, were injured as a result of the shelling, which he attributed to what he referred to as "the Kiev regime." TASS did not report independent verification of the figures beyond Miroshnik's statement.

Miroshnik has served as a Russian foreign ministry official focused on documenting alleged violations attributed to Ukrainian forces, and Russian state media has regularly published his statements on incidents in border regions such as Belgorod, which lies adjacent to Ukraine and has reported repeated cross-border strikes since the start of the war.

The report did not specify the type of ordnance used, the locations struck within the Belgorod region, or the extent of the injuries described. It also did not include comment from Ukrainian officials, who have not been reported as responding to Miroshnik's specific claims in the cited report.

Belgorod, a Russian region bordering Ukraine, has been the site of frequent shelling and drone strikes reported by Russian authorities since the escalation of the conflict, with both sides disputing responsibility for various incidents along the border area.

Independent confirmation of the casualty figures and the total number of strikes cited by Miroshnik was not available in the report.