Governor: Ukrainian strike kills two in Russian border region

So in total, at least 13 people have died in the region since last week, according to data released by authorities.

Attacks on Russian soil have intensified ahead of a weekend election that extended President Vladimir Putin’s rule until the 2030s.

“In the Belgorod region, two people were killed and four were wounded in the village of Nikolskoye following the air defense repelled an attack by the Ukrainian army,” V. Gladkov said.

“The 17-year-old and one man died from their wounds at the scene before the ambulance arrived. Our rescuers pulled out a little girl from under the rubble of the same house,” he added.

The attacks have angered the Kremlin as Moscow tries to downplay the impact of the offensive in Ukraine on the Russian population.

Last week, regions of the country bordering Ukraine became the target of border raids by pro-Ukrainian paramilitary groups who claimed to have captured a village.

At a news conference following his election victory, Putin said he was considering creating a “sanitary zone” in the Ukrainian territory bordering Belgorod to prevent further attacks.

“I do not rule out the possibility that, taking into account the tragic events of today, we will be forced at some point, when we think it is appropriate, to create a certain “sanitary zone” for the Kyiv regime in the territories currently under its control,” he said.