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RBK commander Denis Kapustin mentioned the cross-border raid was successful
The top of the Russian paramilitary group that mentioned it was behind a cross-border raid into Russia from Ukraine has vowed extra such incursions.
“I believe you will notice us once more on that aspect,” mentioned Denis Kapustin, who leads the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK).
Russia mentioned it had repelled the raid, killing greater than 70 saboteurs. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu promised a “harsh response” to any future incursions.
Ukraine denies involvement within the raid.
The RDK together with the Liberty of Russia Legion (LSR) claimed Monday’s raid into Belgorod area.
Talking on Wednesday to reporters on the Ukrainian aspect of the border, Mr Kapustin, whose nom de guerre is White Rex, mentioned: “We’re happy with the end result [of the raid].”
He mentioned his group had managed to grab “some weapons”, together with an armoured personnel service, and take prisoners in the course of the operation – earlier than leaving Russian territory after 24 hours.
He mentioned two RBK fighters have been injured, denying claims by the Russian navy about heavy casualties inflicted on the saboteurs.
Individually, the LSR mentioned two of its fighters had been killed and 10 injured.
The casualty claims by the warring sides haven’t been independently verified.
On the information briefing Mr Kapustin denied studies that his fighters have been utilizing weapons supplied by Western allies to Ukraine to assist defend itself towards Russia’s full-scale invasion launched in February 2022.
Russia describes the RDK and LSR as Ukrainian militants – however Kyiv says they arrive from two anti-Kremlin paramilitaries.
Each teams say they need to dismantle Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime, and have previously been described as a part of a global legion concerned in Ukraine’s territorial defence.
The RDK got here to prominence in March 2023, collaborating in a cross-border raid in Russia’s Bryansk area which it mentioned concerned 45 folks.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Shoigu briefed Russian navy officers on Moscow’s response to the Belgorod raid.
He mentioned “greater than 70 Ukrainian nationalists” had been killed and the remainder pushed again into Ukraine.
“We are going to proceed to reply to such actions by Ukrainian militants promptly and very harshly,” the Russian defence minister added.
Moscow says a number of civilians have been injured in the course of the incursion.
Russia launched pictures of deserted or broken Western navy automobiles – however some consultants say the pictures are staged
Russia posted footage of destroyed US automobiles apparently on the scene of the preventing within the Belgorod area – however some Ukrainian navy consultants and bloggers have steered they may have been staged.
The US mentioned it was sceptical that studies of US-supplied weapons getting used within the incursion have been true and didn’t “encourage or allow strikes within Russia”.
However Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned the automobiles have been proof of rising Western navy involvement in Ukraine.
“It’s no secret for us that an increasing number of gear is being delivered to Ukraine’s armed forces. It’s no secret that this gear is getting used towards our personal navy,” he mentioned.
“We’re drawing the suitable conclusions.”
In the meantime assaults within the area seem like persevering with.
Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov mentioned in a single day assaults by drones have been principally handled by air defences, however some injury was precipitated to vehicles, non-public homes and administrative buildings
No-one was injured within the assaults, he added.
A “small hearth” started after a fuel pipeline was broken in Grayvoron district.
Low-level assaults in Russian border areas comparable to Belgorod and Bryansk have turn out to be frequent in current weeks.
Villages in Belgorod close to the border have been evacuated on Monday after coming beneath hearth.
Monday’s raid led Moscow to declare a counter-terrorism operation, giving the authorities particular powers to clamp down on communications and other people’s actions. The measures have been solely lifted the next afternoon.
