In addition to its war against Ukraine, Russia now has to take action on a large scale against fighters on its own territory near the border for the first time. The excitement in Moscow is great about the “terror”.
After bloody attacks in the Russian region of Belgorod on the border with Ukraine, Moscow is now forced to fight back on its own territory in its war against the neighboring country. The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday that it had “blocked and crushed” attacking troops in the Belgorod region.
In addition, the ministry released a video that is said to show airstrikes against the intruders in the so-called anti-terrorist operation. “More than 70 Ukrainian terrorists, four armored vehicles and five SUVs were killed,” said military spokesman Igor Konashenkov.
Many people have fled
In addition to border guards, the air force and artillery units were also deployed to combat the intruders, Konashenkov said in Moscow. The information cannot be verified independently. However, the town of Graivoron, which borders on the Ukrainian region of Sumy, was particularly hard hit. Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said 12 civilians were injured by the shelling. Many people have fled.
Ukrainian fighters fired at Graivoron and other nearby villages with mortars and artillery. “Damage was found on 29 houses and three cars,” he said.
The Russian regions on the border with Ukraine – in addition to Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk – have repeatedly complained about shelling from the neighboring country. There have already been fatalities and injuries, as well as severe damage – but nothing to compare with the destruction and bloodshed caused by the Russian war of aggression in the neighboring country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has always emphasized that his troops did not attack Russian territory, but only liberated occupied territories.
The Russian Defense Ministry, on the other hand, once again blamed Ukraine for the unprecedented attacks since the war began 15 months ago, but did not name any losses in its own ranks. Ministry spokesman Konashenkov claimed that it was a “response by the Kiev regime to the defeat in Artemowsk.” In Moscow, the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut is named after its previous name, Artemovsk.
At the weekend, Russia announced that it would take the city, which had been heavily fought over for months and had now been completely destroyed. Kiev denies this and says it still has a small part in the south-west of the city under its control.
The Kremlin in Moscow was “deeply concerned” about the situation in Belgorod. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also used the occasion of the “sabotage of Ukrainian fighters against Russia” to once again defend Moscow’s war against Ukraine. “It requires great efforts from Russia, the military special operation will continue, not to allow such incidents anymore,” he said. Previously, Peskov also said that Ukraine wanted to distract from their defeat in Bakhmut with the operation.
Kyiv denies any responsibility
Ukraine, on the other hand, denied having anything to do with the attacks. In Kiev, it was pointed out that volunteer corps made up of Russian citizens claimed responsibility for the attacks. In fact, there are Russians fighting on the side of Ukraine, but it was considered unlikely that they could act unaided in numbers and with such equipment.
In Kiev, the advisor to the presidential office, Mykhailo Podoliak, reacted with malice on Twitter, as in similar incidents in Russia in the past. Russia could sell defending its own territories as a victory, he said. The “Russian regime” should think about the reality: “The sooner they leave all areas of Ukraine, the fewer catastrophes Russia will experience in the end,” he wrote.
In view of the fighting in the Belgorod region, the head of the Russian private army Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, also reported new criticism of the Russian power apparatus. Instead of dealing with the security of the state and its borders, officials squandered public funds. “There is no leadership, no desire and no personalities ready to protect our country,” Prigozhin etched. He has repeatedly pointed out the dangerous situation in the regions and called for more to be done to secure the border.
The former Russian secret service officer Igor Girkin, also known for his sharp attacks on the Moscow military leadership, sees the attacks on Russian territory primarily as a “diversionary maneuver by the enemy” in order to start the long-planned large-scale offensive. Ukraine’s goal is to get Russia to spend more resources protecting its own territory, said the ultra-nationalist, also known by his nickname Strelkov.
Political scientist Sergey Markov, who is close to the Kremlin, said that the pressure on the Russian leadership to finally start the war against Ukraine is increasing. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin himself once said that Russia had not even started in earnest. Against the background of the fighting in the Belgorod region, it is now easier for Putin to order a new wave of mobilization. “Putin, it has to be tougher, more brutal! That will now be the loud demand of the people,” said Markov.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
