Russian troops and security forces engaged in a clash for a second day on Tuesday following an alleged cross-border raid that Moscow states was the work of Ukrainian military saboteurs. Ukraine has labelled the skirmish as an uprising against the Kremlin by Russian partisans. The Belgorod regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said that forces were continuing to sweep the rural area around Graivoron. He warned evacuated residents not to return to their homes until it is deemed safe, following the apparent attack, which left twelve civilians injured and an older woman dead. on both sides, it was impossible to independently verify what occurred or its likely causes.
This is not the first time Russia has accused Ukrainian saboteurs of incursion, but it is the first time that the counter-operation has continued for a second day, highlighting Moscow’s struggles with its ongoing invasion of Ukraine and causing embarrassment for the Kremlin. Drones and explosions have also targeted Russian territory and Ukraine’s occupied areas, but Kyiv officials deny any involvement in orchestrating them.
According to Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar, the assault was carried out by Russian citizens affiliated with shadowy groups such as the Russian Volunteer Corps and the “Freedom of Russia” Legion, who are dissatisfied with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s policies.
Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar described the attackers as Russian patriots who rebelled against the Putin regime. The “Freedom of Russia” Legion claimed responsibility for the assault and stated that both groups were still operating in the Belgorod area with the aim of “liberating” the region. Belgorod officials had previously spent almost 10 billion rubles on fortifications to protect the area from incursions during the ongoing conflict.
The Kremlin expressed deep concerns about the raid and called for a bigger effort to prevent similar incidents in the future. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not disclose the number of attackers involved in the assault or why efforts to stop them are taking so long. He redirected these questions to Russia’s Defense Ministry and Federal Security Service. The UK Defense Ministry stated that Russian security forces are likely fighting partisans in three locations in Belgorod.
According to a tweet by the UK Defense Ministry, Russia is facing a significant security threat in its border regions, with the loss of combat aircraft, improvised explosive device attacks on rail lines, and direct partisan action. The Russian Investigative Committee has initiated an investigation into alleged terrorism and attempted murder in connection with the incident. In addition to the alleged incursion, there were multiple drone attacks on Graivoron and other settlements in the Belgorod region on Monday night. The Russian Volunteer Corps, which claims to be a volunteer formation fighting on Ukraine’s side, breached the border in early March. The Belgorod region has witnessed sporadic spillover from the war, with border towns and villages regularly coming under shelling and drone attacks. Ukrainian forces have made minor progress against Russian forces on the edge of Bakhmut, according to Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar.