Belgium seeks explanation from Ukraine over alleged use of its weapons in Russia's Belgorod region
Photo: Facebook/Diplomatie.Belgium
The government of Belgium will turn to Ukraine for clarification due to information that anti-Putin armed groups used Belgian-made weapons for a raid on the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation.
This is stated in the article Het Laatste Nieuws, European Pravda writes.
According to a "reliable source" of the mass media, the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Ludivine Dedonder and Khaja Lyabib, will contact the Ukrainian authorities as soon as possible to get an explanation of the situation.
"These deliveries are intended for the Ukrainian armed forces to protect their territory and population from Russian invasion. This is clearly stated in the documents accompanying each delivery," HLN quoted a source as saying.
"Thus, these weapons are not intended for isolated groups with domestic Russian interests," it added.
The day before, The Washington Post, citing intelligence data, reported that the fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion, who fought on the side of Ukraine and invaded the Belgorod region at the end of May, used at least four tactical vehicles previously given to Ukraine by Western countries.
These are, in particular, armored vehicles with enhanced anti-mine protection of the MRAP class, as well as Czech and Belgian-made rifles and at least one AT-4 anti-tank grenade launcher, often used by the American and Western military.
Before that, the United States repeatedly emphasized that it did not approve of using its weapons for hostilities outside of Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence said that Western equipment was in the hands of Russian soldiers as a trophy after fighting with Russian troops.
For reference:
On Monday, May 22, a series of explosions occurred in the Belgorod Region, and subsequent reports published in both Ukraine and Russian media indicated the presence of Russian partisans in the area. The Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine has stated that an operation is being conducted to create a security zone within the region, and citizens of Russia are actively participating.
The Free Russia Legion press service told Sospilne that they, together with the volunteer corps, "are creating a demilitarized zone on the border with the Russian Federation, from where they will not be able to fire at Ukraine."
Subsequently, the "regime of counter-terrorist operation" was introduced in the Belgorod region, and urgent evacuation of nuclear ammunition from storage began.
The Office of the President of Ukraine said that Ukraine has no direct relation to the events in Belgorod but "is watching with interest."
On the afternoon of May 23, the Ministry of Defense of Russia announced the "defeat" of the Russian Volunteer Corps military and the Free Russia Legion, which are called "Ukrainian nationalist formations" in the Russian ministry and the media.
On June 1, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion announced the beginning of the second phase of the "liberation" of the Belgorod region.
And on June 4, Russian partisans announced that they had captured Russian soldiers and were entering the suburbs of Shebekino.
