Overview

• The Russian military used an aerial bomb to destroy a dam near the village of Popovka in the Belgorod region, close to the Ukrainian border.
• The bombing, reportedly involving a three-ton explosive, was aimed at hindering the movement of Ukrainian armored vehicles.
• The Belgorod region remains highly contested, with ongoing fighting and claims of repelled attacks by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
• Ukrainian forces have recently withdrawn from parts of the neighboring Kursk region after months of occupation, signaling shifting territorial control.
• The broader conflict, now in its fourth year, continues to draw international attention as both sides adapt strategies involving infrastructure and territorial maneuvers.