Pro-Ukraine volunteer fighters set several buildings on fire as they shelled the border town of Shebekino using Soviet-era Grad rocket systems, it has been claimed.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, where the town is located, said the attacks had also damaged the local administration building and injured a local. Footage shared on social media appeared to show buildings on fire in the town.

Earlier on Thursday, the Freedom of Russia Legion, a group of Russian volunteer fighters, said they were about to launch a renewed cross-border attack. In a video shared on Telegram, a masked fighter purportedly belonging to the unit said: “We will soon move back into Russian territory to bring freedom, peace and tranquillity.”

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia’s defence ministry, border guards and emergency services were constantly updating President Putin on the situation in the region.