Russia says pushed back, ‘destroyed’ Ukraine border assault group
- Russia launched an operation in its Belgorod region a day after armed group - who Kyiv said were anti-Kremlin Russians - infiltrated the area from Ukraine
- Moscow said the incursion was aimed at distracting attention from the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut
Russia said Tuesday that its armed forces had beaten back and wiped out a group of militants and military hardware that were dispatched to its southern Belgorod region from Ukraine.
The incursion was the most serious attack on Russian soil since the beginning of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, prompting Russian authorities to declare an “anti-terror regime” and evacuate nine border villages.
“In the course of the counter-terrorist operation, the nationalist formations were blocked and destroyed by air strikes and artillery fire,” the Russian defence ministry said.
“The remaining (fighters) were driven back to the territory of Ukraine, where they continued to be hit by fire until they were completely eliminated,” the ministry said in a statement.
It said Russian forces killed more than 70 Ukrainian fighters and destroyed four armoured vehicles. AFP was unable to independently verify those claims.
Two purported anti-Kremlin armed groups employing Russians based abroad had said they were responsible for the attack in Russia’s Belgorod region. Reuters was not able to immediately verify their assertions.