In a statement on the Telegram messaging app, Gladkov said that four more people, including two children, had been wounded after air defences downed four Ukrainian drones on the approach to Belgorod city.

Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, has come under regular attack from Kyiv's forces since 2022, with 25 people killed in a single missile strike on Belgorod city in December.

(Writing by Felix Light; Editing by Ros Russell)