UK Sanctions 24 Russian-Linked Targets Over Cyberattacks and Election Interference 
Trump Administration Bars U.S. Travelers From Congo Flights Amid Ebola Outbreak 
Trump Administration Hands Over Key Evidence in Minnesota Immigration Shooting Investigations 
Western Allies Push for More Air Defenses for Ukraine at Paris Summit 
Minnesota Wildfires Spread as Governor Tim Walz Deploys National Guard 
Israel Sets October 27 Election as Netanyahu Faces Tough Political Test 
Trump to Deliver National Address on Declassified 2020 Election Intelligence 
Israeli Strikes Kill Six in Gaza as Ceasefire Talks Continue in Cairo 
Ukraine, Europe Launch Freyja Missile Shield to Strengthen Air Defense Against Russia 
UN Says Hamas Disrupted Gaza Aid Distribution, Group Denies Allegations 
Trump Tells Congress Iran Hostilities Restarted, Citing New 60-Day War Powers Window 
EU to Propose New Rules Limiting Children's Access to Social Media 
Iranian Missile Strike on UAE Oil Tankers Kills Indian Crew Member in Strait of Hormuz 
Iraq PM Visits Washington as U.S. Oil, Gas Deals Take Center Stage 
Russia Launches Missile and Drone Attacks on Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv 
Trump Administration Launches AI Cybersecurity Partnership to Protect Critical Infrastructure 
EU Weighs New Trade Restrictions on Israeli West Bank Settlements 
The Ukrainian military intelligence service said that two opposition Russian paramilitary groups were responsible for the incursion in Russia’s Belgorod region. This follows Moscow’s accusation that Ukrainian saboteurs were responsible.
On Monday, the Ukrainian military intelligence said that the incursion in Russia’s Belgorod region was done by two paramilitary groups made up of Russians opposed to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian news outlet Hromadske. This follows the accusation by Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, who said that a group of Ukrainian saboteurs carried out an armed operation in the border region in the district of Graivoron.
Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov said that two “opposition-minded” Russian paramilitary groups, the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, were responsible for the incursion, according to Hromadske.
“Responsibility for these events was taken by citizens, particularly the RDK and the Freedom of Russia Legion,” said Yusov, referring to the acronym of the Russian Volunteer Corps. “I think we can all only welcome the decisive actions of opposition-minded Russian citizens, who are ready for an armed struggle against the criminal regime of Vladimir Putin.”
Yusov said the incursion in Belgorod would create a “security zone” to protect Ukrainians from cross-border attacks by Russia.
The clashes in Belgorod also come at a time when Russia claims that it has captured Bakhmut, while Ukraine has denied the assertion.
The British defense ministry said in its intelligence bulletin on Tuesday that the clashes in Belgorod from May 19 to May 22 were between Russian security services and partisans, noting how the anti-Kremlin groups claimed responsibility. The ministry said that the most serious clashes between the two sides were in Graivoran, noting the increase in drone or indirect attacks near the places where the clashes took place.
Moscow has responded by asking residents in the affected areas to evacuate and deploying additional security forces.
“Russia is facing an increasingly serious multi-domain security threat in its border region with losses of combat aircraft, improvised explosive device attacks on rail lines, and now direct partisan action. Russia will almost certainly use these incidents to support the official narrative that it is the victim in the war,” said the ministry.
Photo: Mil.ru/Wikimedia Commons(CC by 2.0)
