According to a senior Moscow official, Russian troops and security forces successfully suppressed an alleged cross-border raid from Ukraine on Tuesday, resulting in the reported deaths of over 70 attackers after a 24-hour battle.

Moscow attributed the raid, which began on Monday, to Ukrainian military saboteurs. Kyiv, on the other hand, portrayed it as an uprising against the Kremlin led by Russian partisans. The conflicting narratives make it difficult to ascertain the true nature of the attack or the motives behind it, the Associated Press reported.

The confrontation occurred in the Belgorod region, situated approximately 80 kilometers (45 miles) north of the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. This region serves as a key Russian military hub, housing fuel and ammunition depots.

While Russia has previously accused Ukrainian saboteurs of incursions, this incident marked the first time that the counter-operation against such a raid extended into a second day. The incident proved to be an embarrassment for the Kremlin and underscored the challenges Moscow faces in its protracted invasion of Ukraine.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov asserted that the armed attackers were repelled by local troops, as well as through airstrikes and artillery fire.

“The remaining nationalists were pushed back into Ukrainian territory, where they continued to be targeted until they were completely eliminated,” stated Konashenkov, although he did not provide any evidence to support his claims. He made no mention of Russian casualties.

Written by staff