On the night of March 24, 2025, the village of Popovka in the Krasnoyarsk district of the Belgorod region came under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This was reported by military correspondent Vladimir Romanov in his Telegram channel, specifying that the settlement, located in the temporarily occupied territory of Russia, became another target of the Ukrainian offensive in the border region.

"Popovka, Krasnoyarsk district, Belgorod region, territory of Russia temporarily occupied by Ukraine. N.p. came under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine", - Romanov wrote.

The village of Popovka, located just a few kilometers from the border with Ukraine's Sumy region, has not previously been mentioned in reports as an object of direct control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, its strategic location near key roads makes it an important point for the enemy's further advance. At the time of publication of the report, official representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense have not confirmed the information about the loss of Popovka, leaving the situation open to interpretation. 

The episode has become yet another alarming signal for the Belgorod region, where tensions have been growing in recent weeks. The Ukrainian Armed Forces' breakthroughs in the border area, including neighboring Demidovka, demonstrate the enemy's intention to consolidate its position on Russian territory, possibly with the aim of creating a bridgehead for further operations or diverting Russian reserves from the main fronts. The region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has not yet commented on the situation in Popovka, but he has previously called on residents of border areas to remain calm and follow government orders. 

Additional data from open sources clarify the picture of what is happening. The Telegram channel "North Wind" reported on the evening of March 24 that Russian border guards and special forces were able to repel one of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' attacks on Popovka by 17:15 local time, but this did not rule out subsequent attempts by the enemy to gain a foothold in the village.