Russian defence ministry: attack by ‘sabotage and reconnaissance group’ thwarted in Belgorod region

The Russian Defence Ministry announced that another attack by a “sabotage and reconnaissance group” had been thwarted in Russia’s Belgorod region bordering Ukraine.

“On 4 June this year, the units of the Western Military District and the Border Guard of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation detected an attempt by a sabotage and reconnaissance group of Ukrainian terrorists to cross a river close to Novaya Tavolzhanka in Belgorod region. An artillery strike was launched against the enemy. The enemy has been dispersed and withdrew,” the ministry wrote.

Earlier today, a video of street fighting in Novaya Tavolzhanka was posted on social media. The video was later proven to be fake: local residents told ASTRA media outlet that the village has no houses or locations similar to the ones shown in the video.

Earlier today, Belgorod regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported clashes with saboteurs in Novaya Tavolzhanka. He agreed to meet representatives of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a paramilitary unit based in Ukraine fighting against Russian forces and Vladimir Putin’s government, after the formation offered to release two captives.

Founder of the mercenary Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin later reacted to the offer: “If no one shows up at the specified location to fetch the captives, I am willing to send one of my top deputies to get them. If [Ukrainian President] Volodymyr Zelensky arrives there, I am ready to be there myself.”