Moscow has claimed that Ukrainian militants have entered into the Russian Federation and struck targets in the Belgorod region which sparked an evacuation.
Moscow said they pushed back attackers in a counterterrorism operation and they have killed more than 70 “Ukrainian nationalists” who attacked the region with US armoured vehicles.
The attack took place around 80kn north of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv in a cross border incursion and the Russian military have said this was the most serious attack since the war started.
Images of US made Humvees and other Western military vehicles have appeared on social media including American supplied weapons used by Ukrainian saboteurs.
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A US state department spokesman, Mathew Miller confirmed that they have seen the images “circulating on social media and elsewhere” of American supplied weapons, but said they remain “sceptical at this time of the veracity of these reports.”
Miller added, it is up to Ukraine “to decide how to conduct this war,” but Kyiv has denied any involvement in the attacks in the Belgorod region.
Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu warned that Moscow will react “extremely harshly” if Ukraine sends any more of their fighters into the Russian Federation.
Shoigu told Ministry officials, “We will continue to respond to such actions by Ukrainian militants promptly and extremely harshly.”
Russia released photo’s on social media showing a number of Western military vehicles which were allegedly abandoned in the Belgorod region, but claims has come out that this was all staged.
1) The Russian government released this photo of the alleged Belgorod insurgents vehicles after a battle. I used to be a tow truck operator. This is staged. These vehicles didn’t crash into that trench. I’ll explain why⬇️ pic.twitter.com/vNJpH0qhqY
— Jack’s House (@FluteMagician) May 24, 2023
After Moscow blamed Ukraine for the attacks, two groups of the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, claimed responsibility.
2) No gravel stuck in the tire tread. In fact, no dirt on the tires at all. This was loaded into that trench off a flatbed and carefully choreographed in place. Not even a low-budget war movie production would be this sloppy with realism. Let’s go to the next⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Ub3n0LaddR
— Jack’s House (@FluteMagician) May 24, 2023
The two groups announced their aims of “liberating” the Belgorod region, and the Freedom of Russia Legion was formed last spring.
According to their website this happened “out of Russians’ desire to fight against Putin’s armed gang” which is “officially recognised” by the Ukrainian military.
The statement reads, “We are fighting in full cooperation with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and under the leadership of the Ukrainian command.”
