On November 5, 2023, a Russian Shahed-136 kamikaze drone struck a multi-story residential building on Kashtanova Street in Belgorod, resulting in injuries to two individuals. The incident was initially reported by the Pepel Telegram channel, which shared surveillance footage from a neighboring house showing the distinct features of the Shahed-136 drone. The footage captured the drone’s unique fuselage shape, with a distinctive nose and triangular wings with blunt ends, confirming its identity. The strike was followed by a black cloud of explosion observed in the city’s sky, suggesting it might have been shot down over the city by Russian Air Defense Forces, evidenced by the abrupt dive of the aircraft.

The incident sparked controversy as the regional governor attributed the attack to the Ukrainian military. However, analysis by the Pepel Telegram channel and other observers indicated that the drone originated from Russian territory, moving towards the Ukraine border. Despite the unclear reasons for the deviation of the drone, possible causes include a malfunction in the control system or incorrect flight data. The event forms part of a recurring pattern of air strikes in Belgorod by Russian forces, alongside historical instances like the April 2023 bombing of the city by Russian forces

ملخص الأخبار

• الشكل الفريد لجسم الطائرة، والذي يتميز بمقدمة مميزة وأجنحة مثلثة ذات نهايات عريضة، أكد هوية الطائرة في الحادث.
• التحليق المكثف للطائرات الروسية الهجومية فوق منطقة خاركيف المجاورة يدعم فرضية أن الطائرة جاءت من الأراضي الروسية.
• مدينة بيلغورود تعرضت لعدة ضربات بواسطة القوات الروسية، منها إسقاط قنابل ثقيلة في أبريل 2023.
• تتراوح الحوادث العرضية للضربات الجوية الروسية على أراضيها بين 10-15 حادثة شهرياً، حسب نشاط القوات الفضائية الروسية.