Residents of Russia's Belgorod region say blackouts, air-raid sirens, and the sound of gunfire aimed at incoming Ukrainian drones are becoming increasingly common, as Kyiv retaliates against repeated bombardments of its cities with cross-border strikes of its own.
It's so loud and so terrifying, says Nina, a Belgorod resident who asked us to change her name.
I was coming back from the clinic when a siren went off. As usual, I received Telegram alerts about a drone attack. Then bursts of automatic gunfire broke out, I ran into a nearby courtyard and tried to hide under an arch, she recalls.
The number of Ukrainian drone attacks on the Belgorod region has increased nearly fourfold since the start of 2025, according to BBC News Russian analysis.
In September, more than 4,000 Ukrainian drones were recorded in the Belgorod region, compared to just around 1,100 in January 2025. In one of the biggest strikes last month, the region was targeted with more than 260 drones.
As Ukrainian aerial operations increase, so have the attacks on civilians, significantly diminishing the already frail energy resources of the region which is critical for Russian military operations.
Local residents express their fear, emphasizing the disturbances to their daily lives. Ekaterina (not her real name) recalls the horrifying sights of missile alerts and the flickering lights in her home, followed by deafening explosions.
Authorities in Belgorod are facing fuel shortages and have urged residents to purchase backup generators. Yet residents question how to fuel such devices amid a worsening fuel crisis.
Notably, as the conflict persists without any sign of abating, civilians on both sides of the border feel the immediate ramifications of warfare, with many in Belgorod expressing a heightened sense of anxiety as the war encroaches upon their lives.
