Officials in western Russia’s Belgorod region reported damage Thursday from Ukrainian aerial attacks.
The Russia defense ministry said it destroyed 35 Ukrainian rockets and three aerial drones over Belgorod.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor, said on Telegram that Ukrainian attacks damaged a building and sparked a fire in Belgorod city.
Gladkov also reported damage to multiple houses in two villages in the region.
Belgorod is located along the Russia-Ukraine border and is a frequent target of Ukrainian attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Sweden for a three-year support package totaling more than $7 billion in aid.
“It will strengthen not only us, not only Ukraine, but the entire European perimeter from the Baltic to the Black Sea,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Wednesday.
The Ukrainian leader also made a fresh plea for more air defenses.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs a weapon to counter the guided bombs Russia has used to attack energy and other infrastructure.
“There is no alternative – Ukraine needs systems and tactics that will allow us to defend our positions, our cities and communities from these bombs,” Zelenskyy said.
He said that in April alone, Russia sent more than 3,200 such bombs into Ukraine in addition to missiles and drones.
Some information for this story came from Reuters.
