The Russian border region of Belgorod has confirmed using its air defense systems early Thursday, the day after an unexplained fire at a nearby ammunition dump.
Regional authorities told state news agencies that late-night explosions heard by residents just 30 kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine border were the work of air defense systems.
They provided no further details.
Videos shared on social media showed several white streaks of light against the night sky accompanied by loud bangs.
The explosions followed a major fire at a Belgorod ammunition dump Wednesday.
Russia accused Ukraine of carrying out helicopter strikes on another Belgorod fuel depot and attacking several villages earlier in April.
Officials in Kyiv have denied the accusations.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has stopped short of claiming responsibility for the attacks, but said that fuel and weapons storage fires in Russia were “an absolutely natural process.”
“If you… use warehouses in your regions to enable the killings, then sooner or later the debts will have to be repaid,” he said Wednesday.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
