Moscow, 24 May 2023 (dpa/MIA) – The Russian region of Belgorod on the border with Ukraine has been attacked with a "large number" of drones, according to authorities.

Cars, residential buildings and administrative buildings were damaged in the city of Belgorod itself and in other places in the region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Wednesday. Most of the drones had been destroyed by anti-aircraft fire, he added.

The western Russian border region has been rocked by attacks for months. Moscow holds Ukrainian saboteurs responsible, saying they have been attacking the area with grenade launchers and artillery.

This week, dozens of "representatives of Ukrainian military units" had been fighting in the area since Monday, according to Russian reports. On Tuesday, Russian authorities lifted the temporary state of alert and declared the "anti-terrorist operation" over, with the Russian Defence Ministry saying it had "eliminated" more than 70 Ukrainian terrorists.

Two volunteer corps of Russian citizens fighting for the Ukrainian side in the war that Moscow launched 15 months ago have claimed responsibility for Monday's attacks, while Kiev has denied any involvement.

Belgorod Governor Gladkov said there are no new injured following the latest attacks, but nine people wounded in Monday's strikes were still being treated in hopsital.

Gladkov earlier also spoke of one dead. Hundreds of people fleeing the fighting were still in emergency shelters. They were expected to return home after the security forces "cleared" the area, the governor said. The full extent of the damage was still not clear, according to Gladkov.

In the Grayvoron district, a gas pipeline was damaged and there was a fire, the governor said. Repairs are under way. Emergency workers were also working to restore the power supply by Wednesday afternoon. After that, water should also be available again.

After criticism from citizens about the attacks from the Ukrainian side Gladkov had said that he himself had more questions for the Russian Defence Ministry than they did.

The fact that dozens of attackers with military vehicles and technology could simply march into Russia caused widespread horror in the country. The situation in Belgorod is still considered tense.