Drone attacks: Power cuts reported in southern Russia

Drone attacks have disrupted electrical power and gas supplies and hit phone lines in Russia’s Belgorod region along the border with Ukraine, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported on Monday.

“There was damage to phone cables, to the gas and electricity supply. Electricity has been cut in a string of villages,’’ Gladkov posted on his Telegram channel.

He mentioned Grayvoron and Krasnaya Yaruga west of Belgorod City, and Shebekino to the south-east of the regional capital.

All three villages lie virtually on the border with Ukraine.

Local media reported that Belgorod itself and the city of Oskol to the north-east of Belgorod had also been affected.

They attributed the power outage to a damaged substation.

The Pepel website published video material showing explosions at a substation in Stary Oskol.

The substation is one of the largest and supplies power to the neighbouring Kursk region as well, where the regional governor warned of shortages.

The Ukrainian authorities reported thwarting a coup attempt.

A group had attempted to mount “provocations’’ in Kiev on Sunday, when the country marks Constitution Day, the SBU intelligence service and prosecutors reported on Monday.

The plans involved occupying parliament during a demonstration and setting up a “provisional government,’’ the report said.

Investigations were proceeding into four men, with two held in custody, the report said. Weapons and ammunition had been found in raids, the report said.

The suspects could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.

The investigation is being led by the authorities in Ivano-Frankivsk in the west of the country.

A security zone has been declared around the government quarter in Kiev, where the access and the right to demonstrate have been restricted.

The authorities regularly report that informers and supporters of Russia have been arrested.