Cross-border attacks believed to be from the Ukrainian side continue in western Russia, and exchanges of attacks between both sides appear to be intensifying in border areas including northern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, there have been a number of drone attacks on Russian oil-related facilities, with Ukrainian media reporting that the attacks were carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine, with the aim of weakening Russia's economic power.
Cross-border attacks believed to be from the Ukrainian side continued on the 16th in Belgorod Oblast in western Russia, which borders Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least two people, according to the local governor.
On the 16th, an organization of Russian volunteers fighting on behalf of Ukraine, which has claimed responsibility for the series of attacks, released a statement on social media, calling the presidential election currently being voted in Russia a "travesty." He criticized President Putin and demanded his resignation.
Additionally, in Sumy Oblast in northern Ukraine, which borders Belgorod Oblast, at least three people were killed in an attack from the Russian side on the 15th, and local authorities said that residents had begun to evacuate in droves. It appears that exchanges of attacks by both sides are intensifying in the border area.
Meanwhile, there have been a number of drone attacks on oil-related facilities in Russia, and the governor of Samara Oblast in the central region said on the 16th that two refineries of Rosneft, Russia's largest oil company, were attacked. It was revealed that a fire broke out in one.
Ukrainian media reports that the attack was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine, with the aim of weakening Russia's economic strength to support continued hostilities.