Ukrainian shelling causes ‘serious damage’ in Russia’s Belgorod, governor says

Nighttime shelling by Ukraine inflicted “serious damage” in ‍the Russian city of Belgorod, near the border, the region’s ‌governor said early on Friday (February 6, 2026).

Vyacheslav Gladkov, in a solemn video posted on Telegram after midnight, said city officials were holding an emergency meeting to devise a plan of action.

“I ⁠cannot say good evening, unfortunately, my dear friends,” Mr. Gladkov said in the video, ⁠recorded in near-darkness.

“The enemy has shelled the civilian city of Belgorod. Everyone knows ‌we have no military ‌targets. There has been serious damage. I have ‍been out to look around,” he said.

A post on the ‍unofficial Russian Telegram channel Mash, which has sources in the security services, said missiles had hit the city that lies about 40 km (25 miles) from the ⁠Ukrainian border and power had been cut in some districts.

Ukrainian forces have regularly ⁠attacked Belgorod and nearby parts of the region since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of its smaller neighbour.