Explosions and a fire have been reported in Russia's Belgorod region, with local authorities claiming the incident was caused by a Ukrainian drone attack targeting the city of Stary Oskol.

Residents said they heard several loud blasts during the night, particularly in the northern and northeastern parts of the city, while witnesses also reported bright flashes in the sky, The Caspian Post reports via Ukrainian media.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said Ukrainian drones were behind the attack. He noted that one of the strikes sparked a fire at a residential house and caused damage to nearby buildings. Another exploding drone reportedly shattered windows in more than three apartment buildings, underscoring the impact on civilian areas.

Preliminary information from regional authorities suggests that two people were killed in the incident. Emergency services were deployed overnight to extinguish the fire and assess the extent of the damage.

The Ukrainian military has not commented on the allegations.

The Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine’s Sumy, Kharkiv, and Luhansk regions, has frequently been linked to military activity since the start of the war. Officials say assessments are ongoing as the situation continues developing.