Shebekino, Russia – A Russian state television cameraman was seriously injured in a mine explosion in the western Belgorod region on Monday, local authorities reported.
The incident occurred in the city of Shebekino, a mere 10 kilometers north of the Ukrainian border. Belgorod region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov disclosed the event on his Telegram channel, stating, “In the city of Shebekino, four people were blown up by a mine, three of them regional defense fighters and one employee of the Rossiya 24 TV channel.”
The cameraman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was reported to be in serious condition. He sustained shrapnel wounds to his torso and shoulder and was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for surgery. The governor described the injuries as grave, emphasizing the urgency of the medical response.
Accompanying the report, state television aired a video showing the aftermath of the explosion. The footage depicted the injured cameraman, his face blurred, lying on the ground with blood covering his body.
Camouflaged men, presumably members of the regional defense, were seen applying bandages to his wounds. The video included a commentary from a reporter, who claimed that the mine was placed by Ukrainian forces and had injured civilians. However, this assertion has not been independently verified.
Governor Gladkov did not specify the origin of the mine, leaving unanswered whether it was of Russian or Ukrainian deployment. The exact location of the blast within Shebekino was also not disclosed, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the incident.
In addition to the cameraman, three regional defense fighters were injured in the explosion. One of the fighters was also hospitalized due to the severity of his injuries, while the other two sustained less serious wounds and are expected to receive outpatient care, according to Gladkov.
Shebekino, situated close to the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, has been a frequent target of attacks since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The proximity to the border has made it a frontline zone, with both military and civilian areas experiencing intermittent bombardments and clashes.
The latest incident underscores the ongoing peril in the region, where landmines and unexploded ordnance pose a significant threat to both military personnel and civilians. The use of mines has been a contentious issue in the conflict, with both sides accusing each other of deploying these hazardous devices in civilian areas.
As the conflict continues, the safety of journalists covering the war has come under increased scrutiny. The injury of the Rossiya 24 cameraman highlights the dangers faced by media personnel in conflict zones, where they risk their lives to provide firsthand accounts of the war.
The situation in Shebekino remains tense, with local authorities and residents on high alert for further incidents. The governor’s office has called for vigilance and adherence to safety protocols to minimize the risk of additional casualties.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing human toll of the conflict in Ukraine, affecting not only combatants but also those documenting the war and the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members