Fighting broke out on the 22nd (local time) in Belgorod, western Russia, bordering Ukraine. Russia has accused a Ukrainian sabotage group as being behind it, but Russian anti-establishment groups have claimed responsibility for the fighting.
According to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram that day that “a Ukrainian sabotage group has entered the Belgorod region of Graivoron, which borders Ukraine.”
“Russian forces, border guards, the Presidential Security Service and the Federal Security Service (FSB) are taking steps to repel the incursion,” he added. He also said Ukrainian forces opened fire on the Graevoron area, injuring two civilians.
Russia’s Kremlin (President’s Office) spokesman Dmitry Peskov also reported the intrusion to Russian President Vladimir Putin and said an operation was underway to drive out the sabotage group, Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
On the same day, the Telegram channel Baza, which is linked to the Russian security authorities, posted a video of Ukrainian armored vehicles advancing towards the Graivoron border checkpoint. The telegram channel Open Belgorod reported that electricity and water supply to the border towns were cut off at once due to the fighting.
Meanwhile, the Russian dissident group Freedom of Russia Legion claimed to have orchestrated the skirmish. They posted a post on Twitter that day, saying, “The village of Kozinka has been liberated, and the vanguard has now entered the eastern center of Gribon.” “We continue to advance. Russia will enjoy freedom.”
They also posted a video featuring five heavily armed militiamen that day. In the video, Daewon said, “We are Russians like you. We want our children to grow up peacefully. It is time to end the dictatorship of the Kremlin.”
Ukrainian local media also cited military intelligence authorities and reported that the attack was by Russians, including the ‘Russian Free Corps’ and ‘Russian Volunteers’. Reuters, however, added that Ukrainian military authorities did not respond to commentary on what was behind the fighting, and that it could not confirm the authenticity of Ukrainian media reports.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.