In Russia’s Belgorod, hundreds of residential buildings have been left without heating following damage to energy facilities. According to information cited by Interia, the problem affects around 455 apartment blocks as well as parts of the city’s public infrastructure, including nurseries, schools, outpatient clinics and universities.
“Losses will be catastrophic” and a decision to drain the system
The region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said municipal services have begun large-scale draining (drying out) of heating systems on selected streets. The aim is to reduce the risk of freezing and pipe ruptures as temperatures are expected to drop. Authorities warned that if these measures fail, “losses and damage will be catastrophic” for residents in the affected areas.
Reports also indicate that emergency heating points in the city are to operate around the clock, and that some facilities with stable heating, electricity and water may remain open to provide temporary assistance.
Evacuation as a contingency plan
Local authorities are considering temporarily relocating school-age children to other regions of Russia. Among the contingency options mentioned is also the relocation of large families, families with children with disabilities, and elderly people living alone—if repairs do not succeed.
Background: strikes and damage to energy infrastructure
In recent days, there have been reports of “serious damage” to infrastructure in and around Belgorod, and local officials have linked the outages to strikes on energy facilities. Similar information has been noted by international agencies such as Reuters, while also emphasizing that the exact scale of damage can be difficult to independently verify in wartime conditions.
