Russia said on Tuesday it had used its air force and artillery to “smash” the group that had attacked the Belgorod border region from Ukraine the day before, in the heaviest incursion into Russian territory since the conflict began.
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On Monday, fighters who entered Russia from Ukraine attacked several towns in the Belgorod region, which also came under artillery fire and drone strikes, forcing residents to flee.
The Kremlin expressed “deep concern” and called for “greater efforts” to prevent the raids, given a spate of attacks on Russian soil in recent months that have raised questions about the strength of Moscow’s defenses.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that it repelled the incursion after an operation of unprecedented proportions, in which aviation and artillery in particular were mobilized.
“The nationalist formations were blocked and crushed,” the Russian ministry said in a statement, referring to the fighters who came from Ukraine in that raid.
“The rest of the nationalists were pushed back to the territory of Ukraine, where the attacks (…) continued until they were completely annihilated,” the ministry said, claiming to have killed “more than 70 Ukrainian terrorists.”
These statements were not immediately verifiable by an independent source.
Russia has accused Kiev of being behind the attack, but Ukrainian authorities deny any involvement.
“We are not waging war on foreign territories,” said Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Maliar on Tuesday, seeing it as an “internal Russian crisis.”
Russians interviewed by AFP in Moscow on Tuesday expressed fear of new attacks.
“It concerns not only Belgorod, but all border areas. “The whole Russian nation is worried about the idea that (the bombings) could happen further away, in Moscow,” explains Alexander, a 42-year-old engineer who has chosen not to give his name.
“People in Belgorod should think, not just lie on their sofas, but scratch their heads and wonder if everything is fine in the Russian state,” said Sergei Rousakov, a 70-year-old retired industrial engineer.
The Ukrainians interviewed in Kiev were more interested in fighting at home.
“Our military must reconquer what the Russians conquered – the cities of Ukraine.” We don’t need Russia,” says Olga, 26, a daycare worker.
“We want faster victory and greater achievements in Bachmout, liberation of Mariupol, liberation of Crimea,” says Oleksandre, a pensioner.
The attack in Belgorod was alleged on a Telegram channel posing as a member of the “Legion Freedom for Russia,” a Russian group fighting on the Ukrainian side that had already claimed to be behind previous incursions into the same region.
Another similar group would take part in the operation, the “Russian Volunteer Corps”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the new invasion meant “more efforts” were needed to ensure Russia’s security. “These efforts will continue and the special military operation (in Ukraine) will continue to prevent something like this from happening again,” he added.
Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said several locations, including Grayvoron, the capital of the eponymous district, had been subjected to “numerous” bombardments from artillery pieces, multiple rocket launchers and drones.
Nine towns were also evacuated, the governor said, reporting at least 12 civilians injured.
In response to the raid, Russia on Monday decreed an “anti-terrorist” regime for the entire Belgorod region, a measure that strengthens the authorities’ powers.
In recent months and weeks, as a massive counteroffensive by Ukraine looms, Russian territory has been the target of an increasing number of sabotage, bombings and drone strikes attributed to Kiev but never claimed by Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not comment on the incident, confining himself to speaking generally about the conflict at an awards ceremony in the Kremlin on Tuesday.
“Yes, Russia is facing difficult times, but today is a special time for our national consolidation,” he said.
On Monday, his spokesman said he had been briefed on the incursion into the Belgorod region.