Russian war bloggers have questioned how the attacks were possible at all. Wagner leader Evgeny Prigozhin has also criticized the local government.
Vladimir Putin's press spokesman said that he could not comment on the construction of the defense lines, but that "great efforts are needed to prevent more similar infiltrations" The attack on the Russian border region of Belgorod led Vladimir Putin to order tighter control of the border with Ukraine at the end of February. The same region, along with other border towns, was attacked by drones earlier this year.