Regulations on ‘anti-terrorist operations’ were issued in Belgorod following the incursion, says Vyacheslav Gladkov
Eight civilians were injured on Monday when a group of Ukrainian saboteurs entered Russia’s Belgorod region, local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
The official visited civilians in hospitals to monitor them, according to a video address posted on his Telegram channel. No civilians were killed during the incursion, he noted.
Earlier today, the Governor placed “anti-terrorist operation” regulations over the area during the incident, providing additional power to law enforcement and restricting certain civil liberties. The police can now check documents and vehicles on the sole basis of suspicion, prohibit movement in designated areas, restrict telecommunications services, allow military personnel participating in the operation to freely enter private properties, etc. Gladkov did not provide any estimate of how long the special regime would last.
The incident was acknowledged by Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying earlier in the day that the Russian military, National Guard, border patrol agents and the Federal Security Service (FSB) “take all necessary measures to destroy the enemy.”
Peskov also claimed the attack had largely political aims as it was due to the fallout of the Donbas stronghold of Artyomovsk, known as Bakhmut in Ukraine, which was recently fully liberated by Russian forces. The claim to take the city was disputed by Kyiv.
The incursion was also confirmed by Ukraine, with a spokesman for the Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate, Andrey Yusov, claiming that it was organized exclusively by Russian collaborationist units fighting for Kyiv, namely the so-called “Russian Freedom” legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps. (RDK).
The raid appears to resemble a similar incursion into Russia’s Bryansk region in early March. The attack left two Russian civilians dead and the RDK claimed responsibility. At the time, Kyiv tried to distance himself from the incident, insisting he was not behind the raid. However, RDK members themselves alleged that the Ukrainian authorities had directly “sign” on the raid.
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