Russia declares to block Ukrainian armed group from entering border

The Russian Defense Ministry announced that its military prevented three cross-border attacks by armed groups from Ukraine into Belgorod province.

"After heavy shelling of civilian infrastructure in the Belgorod region this morning, Ukrainian terrorist groups with up to two motorized infantry companies and tanks attempted to enter Russian territory near Novaya Tavolzhanka and the Shebekino border crossing," the Russian Defense Ministry announced on June 1.

The agency said Russian forces used helicopters, artillery and thermobaric rocket launchers to repel three attacks by armed groups, causing significant losses to the enemy.

"The Russian border was not violated," the Russian Defense Ministry said. "More than 30 enemy fighters were destroyed, four infantry fighting vehicles, a Grad rocket launcher and a pickup truck were disabled on Ukrainian territory."

Ukraine said the incursions into Belgorod were not linked to its military and were carried out by Russian volunteers. No armed group has claimed responsibility for the attack on Belgorod province on June 1.

Location of Novaya Tavolzhanka residential area and Shebekino border gate in Belgorod Oblast, Russia. Graphic: FT

Earlier, two pro-Ukrainian militia groups, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and the Russian Free Corps (FRL), claimed to have carried out a cross-border attack on the Graivoron district of Belgorod Oblast on May 22-23. The RVC later announced that they would "return one day."

The Russian Defense Ministry announced that its military had destroyed the entire militia group involved in the attack on the Graivoron district, killing "70 Ukrainian terrorists" and destroying many vehicles, including US-made armored vehicles.

Western experts say the cross-border shelling and incursions into Russian territory have forced the country to disperse its forces, which have suffered heavy losses after more than a year of conflict with Ukraine.

They also said that security at Russia's borders had deteriorated, risking the country spending a lot of resources to patch the gap and affecting its defense capabilities on the Ukrainian battlefield.

But some experts say the failed cross-border raids could benefit Russia in its information warfare. Praising the successful efforts to thwart a “Western-backed campaign of sabotage and terrorism” could unite the Russian public and help it support its military campaign.

US armored vehicles and pickup trucks used by pro-Ukrainian militias were destroyed on May 22 in Belgorod province. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense

Nguyen Tien (According to RIA Novosti, Reuters )

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