Russia’s border city of Belgorod was targeted by another round of Ukrainian shelling overnight, hours after local schools were ordered to extend their holiday closures due to the risk of further attacks.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the local governor, said at least two people were wounded in the latest shelling, as Telegram channels circulated what appeared to be images of damaged cars in the area.

The attack marked the latest in a string of recent deadly strikes on Belgorod, situated about 20 miles from Ukraine’s north-eastern border, in apparent retaliation for a series of aerial assaults by Moscow’s forces.

Schools in several municipalities close to the Ukrainian border were ordered to extend their holidays beyond the planned winter break amid the incidents, Gladkov said earlier on Thursday.

Russian schools have been closed this week as the country celebrates Orthodox Christmas on January 7.

Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry claimed it had repelled a Ukrainian attack over Crimea early on Friday, shooting down 36 drones over the annexed peninsula.

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