Russian President Vladimir Putin described what is happening in the Bryansk border region with Ukraine, Thursday, as a “terrorist act”, as Russian media announced the hostage-taking by Ukrainian militants.
Putin said in a televised speech that “terrorists stormed civilian areas and shot the population,” explaining that Moscow’s main battle “is against terrorists and neo-Nazis.”
Russian officials had said that Ukrainian saboteurs had crossed into western Russia and attacked local villages on Thursday, as the war between the two countries entered its second year.
Amid conflicting initial reports, Russia’s Federal Security Service said the fight against the sabotage unit was taking place in the Bryansk region.
Russia’s Tass news agency quoted the FSB as saying that “activities to eliminate armed Ukrainian nationalists who have violated state borders” are underway.
Earlier, TASS reported, citing Russian law enforcement authorities, that saboteurs were holding up to 6 people hostage.
The local governor said the group of vandals fired at a car there, killing a man and wounding a 10-year-old boy.
Report: Russia is developing a new military strategy
Ukraine response
• The Ukrainian presidency denounced what it described as a “deliberate provocation” practiced by Moscow, after announcing the incident.
• Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter: “The story about the Ukrainian sabotage group in Russia is a classic deliberate provocation. Russia wants to intimidate its own population to justify its attack on Ukraine.”
• He implied that the incident in the Bryansk border region might be the work of Russian “partisans”, referring to armed activists who adopt street warfare tactics.
• Podolyak confirmed that “the partisan movement in Russia is getting stronger and becoming more aggressive. Fear your supporters.”