Tue 23 May 2023:
While it is not the first time Russia has alleged an incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs, it is the first time the operation to counter such attacks has continued for a second day, highlighting the struggles Moscow is facing amid its bogged-down invasion of Ukraine.
“Russia is facing an increasingly serious multi-domain security threat in its border regions with losses of combat aircraft, improvised explosive device attacks on rail lines, and now direct partisan action,” British defence ministry said.
The Belgorod region in southwest Russia, just like its neighbouring Bryansk region and several others, has witnessed sporadic spillover from the 15-month war, with its border towns and villages regularly coming under shelling and drone attacks.
Drone strikes, fighting in Russia’s Ukraine border region
Several drones struck Russia’s border region of Belgorod overnight where fighting on the ground is still ongoing.
The drones struck houses and a government building but did not result in casualties or deaths, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Belgorod governor, wrote on Telegram.
Since the start of the war, the Belgorod region has been repeatedly shelled in attacks that have killed dozens of people. Its main city was struck in April by a Russian fighter jet that accidentally dropped a bomb on it.
The UK Ministry of Defence has published its daily update, in which it says, “Between 19 and 22 May 2023, Russian security forces highly likely clashed with partisans in at least three locations within Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, near the Ukrainian border,” and that, “The identity of the partisans remains unconfirmed, but Russian anti-regime groups claimed responsibility.”
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 23 May 2023.
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/sl1BP3Jp3b
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/MuK0eYueQa
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 23, 2023
Russian ‘clean up’ operation after raid on Belgorod from Ukraine
Russian forces are continuing to engage in military operations against cross-border raiders – described either as armed Russian opposition groups or Ukrainian saboteurs.
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said a “counterterrorism operation” is continuing against what he earlier described as a Ukrainian “sabotage group”, which allegedly entered Russian territory in the Graivoron district bordering Ukraine.
Kyiv has denied the allegations, blaming Russian armed groups supporting Ukraine.
Gladkov told residents who fled Graivoron it was “not possible to return yet” to their homes. He said one woman died during the evacuation on Monday and reportedly two people were wounded, but Russian security forces have not been able to reach them.
Videos emerge of fighters allegedly operating in Russian region
The Russia Volunteer Corps published video footage showing what it said was a fighter inspecting a captured armoured vehicle in the Belgorod region.
Another video showed what it said were attackers operating an armoured vehicle on a country road. Others posted on Russian and Ukrainian social media channels showed pictures and video of what were described as captured Russian servicemen and their identity documents.
It was not possible to immediately verify the videos.
The Freedom of Russia Legion say they entered Belgorod after residents requested the Legion to conduct a peacekeeping operation in russia's region. pic.twitter.com/cM9rGqaU1j
— Ukraine Front Lines (@EuromaidanPR) May 23, 2023
Belgorod governor urges Grayvoron residents not to return yet
Belgorod governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, posted an update on Telegram. He has urged Grayvoron residents not to return to their homes – “It is not worth it yet”, he says.
Gladkov added that there have been “no civilian deaths” as a result of the attacks.
“There are no civilian deaths to date. All necessary actions on the part of law enforcement agencies are being carried out. We are waiting for the completion of the counter-terrorist operation that was announced yesterday,” he wrote.
Who are behind the cross-border raids into Russia?
Ukraine intelligence representative Andrii Cherniak said Russian citizens belonging to the armed groups – calling themselves the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion – are behind the ongoing assaults.
The Russian Volunteer Corps claimed in a Telegram post it crossed into Russia again after saying it breached the border for operations in early March.
The Russian Volunteer Corps describes itself as “a volunteer formation fighting on Ukraine’s side”. Little is known about the group and it is not clear if it has any ties with the Ukrainian military. The same is true for the Freedom of Russia Legion.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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