Ukrainian shelling causes 'serious damage' in Russia's Belgorod - report

Nighttime shelling by Ukraine inflicted "serious damage" in the Russian city of Belgorod, near the border, the region's governor said early on Friday.

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," 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 didn't provide details of the damage. He said the authorities have not set up temporary housing.

Separately, the governor of neighbouring Russia's region of Bryansk said Ukraine hit energy facilities using HIMARS missiles and drones, causing power outage at some settlements.

Russia and Ukraine said last week they had halted strikes on each other's energy infrastructure, but they disagreed on the timeframe for the moratorium. The strikes resumed earlier this week.

The reported attacks took place against the background of U.S.-brokered peace talks.

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.

Reuters was not immediately able to verify the reports. There have been no comments from Ukraine.

In his morning address, Gladkov said the works to restore electric power supply continue.

"As of today, we have not been able to fully restore electricity supply in Belgorod," he said.

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

Ukraine has said Russian missile and drone attacks on the capital Kyiv in January left about a million people without electricity.

-Tom Hogue and Michael Perry/Reuters