In a recent development, Russia has initiated a terrorism investigation into an alleged cross-border attack, although Ukraine has firmly denied any involvement and emphasized its non-engagement in foreign conflicts. Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that it had successfully thwarted an attack in the Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border.
According to the ministry, Russian forces neutralized approximately 70 assailants within the region and forced the remaining units to retreat into Ukraine. The ministry further stated, "During the counter-terrorist operation, nationalist groups were effectively contained and eliminated through precise airstrikes and artillery barrages."
As is often the case with such incidents, independent verification of these reports is currently unavailable.
This development follows a statement by Russian authorities a day earlier, alleging that a "sabotage" group from Ukraine had crossed the border to launch the attack in the Belgorod region. Notably, this represents the largest assault of its kind since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Nevertheless, Kyiv maintains its denial of involvement and attributes the hostilities to Russian guerrilla factions.
In response to the incident, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Governor of Belgorod, reported that drones had targeted several buildings overnight but fortunately caused no casualties. However, during the evacuation of civilians from border towns, an unfortunate incident led to the death of an elderly woman. Governor Gladkov urged the residents of the Graivoron district to refrain from returning to their homes temporarily, citing safety concerns.
As tension escalates, the Russian government has called for more robust defense measures. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed deep concern and emphasized that the incident underscores the continued activities of Ukrainian militants against Russia. Peskov stated, "This necessitates intensified efforts from our side, and we are committed to sustaining these endeavors through ongoing special military operations to prevent any recurrence," utilizing Moscow's official terminology for the invasion of Ukraine.
Furthermore, Russian authorities have initiated a terrorism probe into the alleged cross-border attack. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation conveyed in a press release on Tuesday, "Residential and administrative buildings were subjected to shelling using mine launchers and artillery. Regrettably, these criminal acts resulted in injuries to several innocent civilians."
