Two villages in Russia's Belgorod region bordering Ukraine have been shelled by Ukraine, a Russian governor said on Thursday.
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said shelling “came from the Ukrainian side on Zhuravlyovka and Nekhoteevka,” adding there were no civilian casualties.
It comes as a Ukrainian regiment commander said “bloody battles” are being fought between Ukrainian and Russian troops inside Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant.
“I am proud of my soldiers who are making superhuman efforts to contain the pressure of the enemy ... the situation is extremely difficult,” the commander said in a brief video message on Telegram.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenksy has said Russia will have to bear the responsibility for the death of well-known journalist Oleksandr Makhov as he paid tribute in his nightly address.
“Today he [Makhov] died in the Kharkiv region, in the battles near Izium. He was 36 years old. My sincere condolences to relatives and friends.”
