An official from Russia has confirmed that 2,500 people were evacuated from the Belgorod border region due to shelling by Ukraine and incursions by paramilitary groups. According to the governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, conditions were tough and the residents were sheltering in temporary quarters in sports centers before being transported to other parts of Russia. Four people died due to artillery shell on Friday, including two women who were in a car when they were hit. Witnesses reported damage to residential areas, including a block of apartments that was on fire. Two paramilitary groups, Free Russia Legion and Russian Volunteer Corps, claimed responsibility for the attack, but they denied attacking civilians and said that they only targetted security installations.
