The Belgorod Oblast of Russia Declares a State of Emergency

On August 14, 2024, the governor of the Belgorod Oblast of Russia, which borders Ukraine, Gladkov, announced that the oblast has entered a state of emergency. In a video speech posted on social media, Gladkov said that the current situation in the Belgorod Oblast is extremely tense and complex. The Ukrainian armed forces conduct artillery shelling every day, resulting in damaged houses and civilian casualties.

The Belgorod Oblast has decided to implement a regional-level state of emergency throughout the oblast starting from the 14th. The purpose is to enhance the protection of residents and provide additional assistance to the victims. Gladkov also said that the government of the Belgorod Oblast will request the relevant committee of the Russian Federation government to upgrade the current regional-level state of emergency in the oblast to a federal-level state of emergency.

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Belgorod Oblast, which borders Ukraine, has continuously been subject to artillery shelling and drone attacks by the Ukrainian army, causing casualties and property losses. Since August 6, the Ukrainian army has raided the Kursk Oblast of Russia, making the situation in the border area of the Belgorod Oblast even more severe. On the 9th, the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee announced that an anti-terrorism operation regime would be implemented in the Kursk Oblast, Belgorod Oblast, and Bryansk Oblast starting from that day. As of the 12th, about 11,000 residents of the Belgorod Oblast have been evacuated.