Ukraine Prepares Major Counterattack with Simultaneous Strikes on Russian Mainland Border Areas

As Ukraine announced a major counteroffensive, shelling and drone attacks occurred in the western and southwestern regions of Russia bordering Ukraine. The offensive appears to be gradually intensifying, with southern Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine also coming under attack.

On the 2nd (local time), according to Sputnik News Agency, Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Belgorod, stated on Telegram that "shells fell on the Maslova Pristan road in the Shebekino area," adding, "shrapnel hit vehicles, killing two women on the spot." Two others in another vehicle were seriously injured by shrapnel wounds to the chest and lower body and were transported to a nearby hospital. Belgorod borders northeastern Ukraine and is used as a route for Russian military incursions.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Attacks continued in other border areas as well. In Bryansk Oblast, several houses were damaged by shelling in the morning. In Smolensk Oblast, which borders Belgorod, two drones attacked fuel and energy facilities around 3 a.m. that day.

In Kaluga Oblast, located southwest of Moscow, an explosion from an unidentified object presumed to be a drone occurred around 6:45 a.m. that day.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Russia's southern occupied areas of Ukraine were also attacked. Zaporizhzhia authorities reported that a ward in the Rozovka area was shelled around 11 a.m. that day. A local official said, "We are currently assessing casualties and damage." The Rozovka area had also been shelled the previous day, resulting in one death and one injury.

Earlier, on the 29th of last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the timing of the counteroffensive. According to TASS News Agency, he stated in a video speech posted on his Telegram channel that "a decision has been made regarding the timing of the advance."