Russian Border Drone Strike Kills Child in Belgorod, Injures Two Others

A Ukrainian drone strike in Russia's Belgorod region killed a 13-year-old girl and injured two other children on Sunday, according to local Russian officials. The incident occurred near a playground in the border village of Printsevka, close to Ukraine, adding to growing concerns over civilian casualties in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Acting Belgorod Governor Alexander Shavayev said the drone struck an area adjacent to the playground, leaving three young girls wounded. Medical teams were unable to save the 13-year-old victim, while two other girls, aged 7 and 9, were hospitalized and are receiving treatment.

Russia's commissioner for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, condemned the attack, describing it as "another inhumane terrorist act" allegedly carried out by the Ukrainian government. Her remarks were widely reported by Russian state media following the incident.

Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin remain the subject of arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The court accuses both officials of the unlawful deportation of children from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, allegations that Moscow has consistently denied.

Ukraine's Defence Ministry did not immediately comment on the reported drone strike. At the time of publication, Ukrainian authorities had not confirmed responsibility for the attack.

The latest incident underscores the continuing humanitarian toll of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Border regions on both sides have repeatedly come under attack as the war continues to intensify.

The tragedy also recalls previous strikes involving children. In April 2025, a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih struck a densely populated residential neighborhood, including a playground, killing 20 civilians, among them nine children. The repeated targeting of areas near civilian infrastructure has fueled international concern over the impact of the conflict on children and other non-combatants.