Saturday, October 28, 2023

Belgorod Bomb Scare: Thousands Evacuated in Russia

Date:

Belgorod Evacuates 17 Apartment Buildings After Explosive Device Found

Belgorod, a city located about 40km (25 miles) from the border with Ukraine, evacuated 17 apartment buildings after an explosive device was found in the area. More than 3,000 people were evacuated on Saturday while the explosive was disposed of, according to the regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov. Military explosive experts decided to “neutralise” the explosive at a training ground. The precautionary evacuations ended later in the day, and residents were delivered back to their homes.

The city had experienced another incident two days earlier when a Russian warplane accidentally dropped a bomb on the city, damaging local houses and injuring three people. Those evacuated lived in the same area where the bomb was accidentally dropped.

According to Gladkov, the operational headquarters decided to evacuate 17 apartment buildings within a radius of 200 metres. He added that anyone who needed help with temporary accommodation would be provided with it. Belgorod Mayor Valentin Demidov later confirmed that the bomb had been removed from the residential area and that residents were being delivered back to their homes.

The incident has raised concerns about safety in the region, especially as it is located near the Ukraine border. The area has been volatile since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, leading to a conflict between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The accidental dropping of the bomb by a Russian Sukhoi-34 supersonic warplane on Thursday has also raised questions about the safety of military operations in the area. Russian officials said that the warplane accidentally fired a weapon into Belgorod, causing an explosion and injuring three people.

The incidents have highlighted the need for better safety measures in the region, especially as tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate. The international community has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but there have been few signs of progress in recent years.

The situation in the region remains tense, and incidents like these only serve to heighten concerns about safety and security. The evacuation of 17 apartment buildings in Belgorod is a reminder of the need for better safety measures in the area, especially as tensions continue to rise. The international community must work together to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict and ensure the safety of civilians in the region.

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