Russian authorities temporarily close shopping centres in Belgorod Oblast, Russia, due to bombardments

Shopping centres in Belgorod Oblast have been closed until the end of the day (14 March) due to bombardments, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, has announced.

Source: Vyacheslav Gladkov, Governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, on Telegram

Quote: "Security is the most important concern: There have been many requests from you [presumably from local residents – ed.] to close shopping centres. We have actually made it happen – they are now closing. We agreed to keep them closed until the end of the day. As for the coming days, everything will depend on the operational situation."

Details: Belgorod reportedly came under fire twice during the day. A projectile hit a car, killing the driver. A local woman was killed in the second bombardment.

Background:

• On 13 March, Russian volunteer soldiers fighting on the Ukrainian side announced strikes on Russian military positions in Belgorod and Kursk and called on local residents to evacuate.
• On 14 March, at 10:30, Denis Nikitin, the head of the Russian Volunteer Corps, announced that Russian volunteers would open fire on Russian military targets in Belgorod and Kursk within an hour and a half.
• The Russian Volunteer Corps then issued a call to all residents of Kursk and Bryansk oblasts who did not have time or were unable to evacuate to seek shelter immediately.
• The Russian authorities refused to acknowledge that they are being challenged by Russian volunteer soldiers fighting on Ukraine's side. Ukraine's Defence Intelligence reported that authorities in Russia's Belgorod Oblast decided to evacuate local residents due to the operations carried out by the Russian military volunteer groups.

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