2023-05-22 14:35:00
They confirm that a group of Russians aligned with Ukraine crossed into Russian territory and attacked a city
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region said Monday that “a sabotage and reconnaissance group” from the Ukrainian military had crossed into Russian territory, with Ukraine confirming that the group consisted of Russian citizens.
Vyacheslav Gladkov said that the forces had entered the territory of the Graivoronsky district, which borders Ukraine.
“The armed forces of the Russian Federation, together with the border service, the National Guard and the FSB (Russian security service), are taking the necessary measures to eliminate the enemy,” Gladkov said.
CNN has not been able to verify the information.
Earlier on Monday, Gladkov claimed on Telegram that the district had been shelled by Ukrainian forces since 9:00 a.m. local time (2:00 a.m. ET), but added that no one had been injured.
The villages of Antonovka, Kozinka and Gora-Podol had been hit by shells or debris, Gladkov said.
What Ukraine says: A Ukrainian defense intelligence official confirmed to CNN that a group of Russian nationals who crossed from Ukraine into Russia’s Belgorod region and attacked the city of Grayvoron were “part of the Ukrainian defense and security forces, but were acting as “independent entities” in Russia”.
Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency, told CNN: “We can confirm that this operation was carried out by Russian citizens. These actions are a consequence of the intensification of Russian cross-border attacks, which have caused casualties and destruction”.
Yusov claimed that the units that had crossed the border were “part of the defense and security forces” of Ukraine, but specified: “In Russia they act as independent entities.”
Groups called the “Russian Freedom Legion” and “Russian Volunteer Corps” claimed responsibility for the attack in the Belgorod region. In a message posted on Telegram, they claimed to have “completely liberated the Kozinka settlement, in the Belgorod region.”[ThefirstgroupshaveenteredGrayvoron”[LosprimerosgruposhanentradoenGrayvoron”
Border attacks on the rise: Attacks against the Belgorod region appear to have intensified in recent weeks, Russian officials say.
Earlier this month, Gladkov claimed that two drones had detonated and landed on a residential area in the region. He added that no casualties had been reported, but two residential buildings and a car had been damaged.
Another drone was shot down by Russian air defense systems over the region, Gladkov said. The governor said there were no casualties and response teams are assessing the aftermath on the ground.
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