Ukraine war: Some residents leave Belgorod after deadly attacks

Russia has begun moving some residents from the city of Belgorod following deadly attacks by Ukraine.

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said several families had left the city, which is close to the Ukrainian border.

Twenty-five people were killed and more than 100 injured there on Saturday in one of the deadliest attacks on Russia since it invaded Ukraine.

The attack followed a massive wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine a week ago, which killed 39 and injured over 160.

Those strikes were described by Kyiv as Russia's biggest missile bombardment of the war so far.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin launched its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022.

On Friday, Mr Gladkov said he had seen appeals on social media by people saying, "We are scared, help us get to a safe place."

"Of course we will! We have already moved several families," he said.

The governor said residents would be taken to the towns of Stary Oskol and Gubkin where they could stay "for as long as necessary".

However, he said not everyone could be accommodated there, so he would ask colleagues from other regions to help.

The governor later posted a warning of a possible missile attack and urged residents to head home or into shelters.

Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of being behind drone strikes in recent months.

Kyiv rarely admits to such attacks across the border, although it has carried out such strikes before.

The cross-border fire comes as the US accuses Russia of a "significant and concerning escalation" in Ukraine, with the use of ballistic missiles and launchers supplied by North Korea.

Moscow has denied any such collaboration.

The last US military aid package to Ukraine, worth some $250m (£195m), was approved by the White House on 27 December.

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