Russia has reported a “terrorist” attack that claimed two lives on its soil near the Ukrainian border. Allegations rejected by Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (2 March) denounced a “terrorist” attack after Moscow reported an incursion by Ukrainian “saboteurs” into a region of south-western Russia bordering Ukraine, something Kyiv denied. For its part, Ukraine has ordered people at risk to evacuate the city of Kupyansk on the north-eastern front, which is at risk of being taken by Russian forces. Here’s what to remember from the day.
The Kremlin denounces a “terrorist” attack
According to Russian authorities, two civilians were killed and an 11-year-old child injured after “saboteurs” opened fire on a car in the village of Lyubetchané in the Bryansk region, which is right on the border with Ukraine. In a televised speech, Vladimir Putin denounced an attack by “neo-Nazis” and “terrorists” who “opened fire on civilians.” “We will destroy them,” he said.
In the evening, the security services said the situation was “under control” and that “Ukrainian nationalists” had been pushed back into Ukraine and had been attacked there “with a massive artillery strike”. According to them, a “large number of explosives” were discovered and clearing operations were underway. The Ukrainian Presidency has denied these allegations, calling them a “deliberate provocation” which it says is aimed at justifying the military offensive that Moscow has been waging in Ukraine for more than a year.
Ukraine orders partial evacuation of Kupyansk
“Mandatory evacuation of families with children and residents with reduced mobility began in the municipality of Kupyansk due to the constant shelling of the territory by Russian forces,” said the military administration of the Kharkiv region. The governor claimed several locations, including Kupiansk, had been shelled by Russian forces.
This city, located about a hundred kilometers from the city of Kharkiv, had almost 30,000 inhabitants before the war. It was taken by the Russians in the early days of the invasion a year ago. The Ukrainians recaptured the city in September after a lightning-fast counteroffensive.
A “brief” exchange between Russian and American ministers
On the sidelines of a G20 meeting in India, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a “brief” meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the first in Ukraine since the start of the war, a US official revealed. “I told the foreign minister (…): ‘End this aggressive war, engage in sensible diplomacy that can lead to a just and lasting peace,'” Antony Blinken then confirmed.
In front of the G20 participants, the US Secretary of State called on Russia to renew the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports that expires on March 18. The agreement, concluded in July and extended by four months in mid-November, helped to alleviate the world food crisis caused by the war by exporting around 20 million tons of grain.
Russia tightens sanctions against critics
Russian MPs passed amendments punishing even harsher language seen as hostile to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, now including members of paramilitary groups like Wagner. These changes introduce penalties for criticizing Russian “volunteer” fighters. This term is regularly used by the authorities to describe the mercenaries of the Wagner paramilitary group, which is very active on the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
Following these changes, “discrediting” Russian soldiers or “volunteers” taking part in the conflict is now punishable by up to seven years in prison, up from five years previously. These changes were adopted at the second reading, the most important of the Russian legislative cycle. They then have to be finally approved at third reading, then validated by the Upper House of Parliament and signed by Vladimir Putin, which is generally a formality.