Russia claims Ukrainian forces attempting offensive near Belgorod border
Photo: Land Forces of Ukraine's armed forces
The Russian Federation has claimed that Ukraine's armed forces allegedly attempted to initiate offensive actions near the Belgorod region border. In response, Ukraine clarified the events occurring in the border area.
The Russian Telegram channels Baza and Mash wrote about the alleged offensive. Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, commented on these statements.
According to Russian "military sources," on the night of March 18, the Ukrainian military allegedly began to pull equipment and personnel to the border area between the Belgorod and Kursk regions.
Russian sources write that several armored groups of Ukraine's armed forces allegedly tried to break through to the Krasnoyaruz district of the Belgorod region. The equipment was moving from the Sumy region.
The Russian Federation claims that a battle took place, and Ukrainian equipment was destroyed. Currently, they are reporting "active artillery work".
In turn, Kovalenko commented on these statements as follows:
"The Russians are at it again—making stuff up and declaring their own victories. It's a pretty common move for them."
According to the head of the Central Military District, fighting near the border is almost nonstop in this large-scale war. Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups are active, and artillery "duels" are happening because of attacks on Ukrainian territory.
"The fact that it is now very profitable for the Russians to inflate before Trump's conversation with Putin is not surprising.
Their main information strategy is to accuse Ukraine of unwillingness to end the war, although in reality, they are attacking from the front, as well as from the air. And it is Putin who is delaying Trump's proposal to cease fire," Kovalenko is convinced.
It is worth adding that, according to President Zelensky, today, March 18, a week has passed since the United States' proposal for a ceasefire was considered. Still, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is delaying the war.
"This proposal could have been implemented a long time ago. Every day in war conditions is people's lives. It has been almost a week now that it is obvious to absolutely everyone in the world – even those who have not wanted to admit the truth for three years – that it is Putin who is continuing and prolonging this war! " the president emphasized.
Zelensky stressed that Putin "has not been able to squeeze out a "yes" in response to the offer of silence for a week now."
In the Sumy region, Russian forces are attempting to enter the area to encircle the Ukrainian Defense Forces stationed in Russia's Kursk region. The State Border Guard Service spokesman, Andrii Demchenko, explained that the primary task of the Ukrainian military is to stop the enemy from crossing the border.
Demchenko had already reported earlier that the army of the Russian Federation is trying to gain a foothold in the area of the village of Novenke in the Sumy region and cut off logistical routes.4
Moreover, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the Russian occupation forces are accumulating forces to strike at the Sumy region.
