Russian schools in Belgorod near Ukrainian border shift to remote learning amid shelling

Schools in the Russian city of Belgorod and municipalities bordering Ukraine in the Belgorod region are transitioning to remote learning, announced Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

"In the 30-kilometer zone from the state border, conducting classes and extracurricular activities is unfortunately impossible today," Gladkov wrote on Telegram.

He also stated that 5,000 children have already been evacuated from Belgorod Oblast to other parts of Russia. In particular, on 29 March, 1,300 children have arrived in St. Petersburg, Bryansk, and Makhachkala, according to Gladkov.

On March 19th, the authorities of Belgorod Oblast announced plans to evacuate around 9,000 children to other Russian regions.

In recent weeks, Russia's Belgorod Oblast has suffered from constant shelling, which they claim originates from Ukraine. Kyiv has not commented on these reports. Meanwhile, Ukrainian border regions, including Sumy and Kharkiv, have been under fire from the territory of Belgorod and other Russian border regions for the past two years.

Read more:

• Frontline report: Ukraine prepares for likely Russian assault from Belgorod region
• Russia's Belgorod restricts entry to settlements border with Ukraine
• Anti-Kremlin Siberian Battalion claims to have entered village, captured local administration in Russia's Belgorod Oblast
• Belgorod governor says 2 killed, at least 3 injured as anti-Kremlin Russian battalions fight in city
• Intel: Russian authorities block evacuation in Belgorod Oblast as anti-Kremlin militia breaks into Russia