03:29 23 May
Pro-Ukrainian attack on Russian soil, battle near Belgorod, dead and wounded
After a year and three months from the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, hostilities are sweeping over Russian territory - no longer just with bombing but with ground troops crossing the border.
It takes place in the Belgorod region, where "a group of saboteurs and reconnaissance of the Ukrainian armed forces" has crossed the border, according to Russian sources. Kiev, on the other hand, claims to have nothing to do with the operation, which would be conducted exclusively by anti-Putin Russian militiamen.
The raid is claimed by two armed organizations of Russians more or less framed in the ranks of the Ukrainian army and of which not much is known: the Freedom Legion for Russia and the far-right group Russian Volunteer Corps.
The governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, announces that the raid was accompanied by the shelling of several villages, which caused at least eight injuries, damage to residential buildings and the burning of a kindergarten. Sources quoted by Russian Telegram channels Baza and Shot speak of 39 killed among the ranks of the raiders, while several others would have been taken prisoner. Videos appeared on several telegram channels, Russian and Ukrainian, show fighting with the use of tanks and a helicopter. The governor said most residents of border villages had left their homes and announced the introduction of a special anti-terrorism regime in the region
, which involves "temporary restrictions".
The operation was launched by Kiev with a specific purpose, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accuses: to "divert attention" from the defeat suffered in Bakhmut.
03:22 23 May
Belgorod, the first videos of the pro-Ukrainian attack
Fighters and armored vehicles crossed from Ukrainian territory into Russia, attacking border posts and the population centers of Kozinka and Grayvoron. According to Ukrainian media, the Russian checkpoint of Grayvoron, in the Belgorod region, which is located near a nuclear weapons depot, has been surrounded. These two videos, published by the Telegram channels catars_is and anna_news, were both geolocated near Kozinka. Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region wrote: "A sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Ukrainian armed forces entered the territory of the Grayvoronsky district. The armed forces of the Russian Federation, together with the border service, the Russian Guard and the FSB, are taking the necessary measures to eliminate the enemy." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the incident "an operation to divert attention from the defeat suffered in Bakhmut," adding that Putin had been informed. Andriy Yusov, representative of Ukrainian military intelligence, spoke of an incursion was conducted only by Russian fighters belonging to two formations, Freedom for Russia and the Russian Volunteer Corps. Composed of deserters and opponents of the Kremlin, the first is liberal democratic, the second oriented to the right. They are both part of the regular Ukrainian army, and both claimed responsibility for the attack. "Do not resist and do not be afraid: we are not your enemies. Unlike Putin's zombies, we don't touch civilians and use them for our own purposes. Freedom is near. Today is the time for everyone to take responsibility for their future. It is time for the Kremlin's dictatorship to end," reads the Freedom for Russia Telegram channel. The Telegram channel "Open Belgorod" reported that electricity and water were cut off in several locations.
03:21 23 May
Washington: The Wagner group wants to transit weapons to Ukraine in Mali
The United States is monitoring the Wagner Group's efforts to transit weapons to Ukraine via Mali.
The State Department said there were currently no indications that Wagner was successful in his operation. "We have been informed that Wagner is trying to transit the material acquired to aid Russia's war through Mali and is ready to use false documents for transactions," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.