MOSCOW – Russia said on Thursday its security forces had foiled an attempt by a group of Ukrainian “saboteurs” to enter Russia via the southern Bryansk region that borders Ukraine.
The announcement came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned saboteurs were acting inside Russia.
“Today, the border department of the FSB (security service) of the Bryansk region thwarted an attempt by a Ukrainian saboteur group of 20 people that tried to cross into the Russian Federation near the village of Sluchovsk,” regional governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Telegram.
Russia’s defence ministry said its forces, together with the FSB, had “prevented an attempt to enter… the territory of the Russian Federation”, by more than 15 people.
“The sabotage group was dispersed and, having suffered losses, withdrew to the territory of Ukraine,” said the ministry statement.
In a video posted online, the Russian Volunteer Corps, a far-right group of Russian nationalists fighting on Ukraine’s side, appeared to claim the incursion.
It showed some of its members talking to locals and firing weapons.
AFP could not independently verify the video.
Sluchovsk, a village in Russia on the border with northern Ukraine, is relatively far from active fighting zones.
