Kathrine Frich
The blast triggered outages across the city and several nearby towns.
Incidents of accidental strikes by a country’s own military are not uncommon in wartime, but Russia has faced a recurring pattern of such misfires since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
Analysts say overloaded air crews, ageing equipment and intense operational tempo have contributed to repeated episodes of weapons falling on Russian territory.
Bomb near substation
According to reports from Russian independent outlets, an unidentified device, believed to be an aerial bomb, struck an area near a power substation outside Belgorod.
Local channels quickly circulated images of a damaged power facility and debris scattered across residential streets.
The blast triggered outages across the city and several nearby towns.
Media tracking these incidents noted that this would be “at least” the 133rd instance of Russian forces inadvertently striking their own territory.
Regional officials stated that the explosion occurred “as a result of shelling with unidentified ammunition,” adding that one person was injured.
They confirmed widespread power cuts affecting much of the Belgorod region.
Media point to Russian error
Pepel, an independent editorial team publishing on Telegram, reported that the device hit close to the facility on Storozheva Street.
Outlets also said no air-raid warning had sounded beforehand and there were no alerts about incoming Ukrainian drones.
Based on these circumstances, several Russian independent media organisations concluded that the blast was likely caused by a Russian aircraft.
Residents told reporters they heard a plane heading in the direction of Ukraine shortly before the explosion.
The force of the blast sent dirt, stones and debris into the air above surrounding homes, leading observers to rule out a drone strike.
Damage assessment ongoing
Early accounts suggest a truck was damaged and households reported shattered windows.
Officials have not yet offered an estimate for when electricity will be fully restored.
The extent of the impact remains unclear, but the incident adds to a growing list of self-inflicted strikes that have raised concerns about operational discipline within Russia’s own air force.
Sources: Independent Russian media reports, Pepel Telegram channel, WP.
