Russia promised Wednesday an “extremely firm” response in the event of new armed incursions, two days after the most serious attack by groups from Ukraine on Russian territory since the start of the conflict with Ukraine in February 2022.
Four days after claiming the capture of Bakhmout, the epicenter of fighting for months in eastern Ukraine, the boss of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner Evguéni Prigojine gave him for the first time an estimate of the losses of his organization.
According to him, about 10,000 men out of the 50,000 inmates he recruited from the prisons were killed, and a similar proportion of his professional fighters.
Two days after the surprise incursion of two groups from Ukraine, the public response of the Russian general staff was expected: Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu delivered a message of “firmness” on Wednesday during a meeting with senior military officers.
“We will continue to respond quickly and extremely firmly to such actions,” said Mr. Shoigu, the target of violent criticism from Mr. Prigojine.
On Tuesday, his army said it had “crushed” with its air force and artillery a group that had attacked the Belgorod border region the day before, the most spectacular incursion into Russian territory since the invasion of Ukraine.
The attack, claimed by Russian armed groups based in Ukraine saying they want to overthrow Vladimir Putin, represents another embarrassing episode for Russia, whose military is embroiled in a 15-month conflict.
The fighters in question spoke to the press on Wednesday in northern Ukraine, praising the “success” of their operation, which they said showed the weakness of Russian defenses.
“I want to prove to them that we can fight against tyrants and that Putin’s power is not unlimited,” said Denis Kapustin of the “Russian Volunteer Corps”, a well-known figure in the hooligan and far-right milieu in Russia, past Ukrainian side.
If Ukraine has denied any responsibility in this incursion, Mr. Kapustin assured that kyiv had “encouraged” them, without providing arms or equipment.
This incident occurred in a context of multiplication and amplification of attacks and sabotage in Russia, at a time when kyiv says it is completing its preparations to launch an offensive and retake the territories occupied by Moscow.
It took more than 24 hours for Russian troops to announce the “total elimination” of fighters from Ukraine, after the brief establishment of an “anti-terrorist” regime at the local level.
These claims were unverifiable from independent sources.
According to Russian authorities, during the incursion a civilian was killed and a woman died of heart failure during the evacuation.
Russia also reported on Wednesday that one of its warships was attacked by Ukrainian unmanned boats while the vessel was on patrol in Turkey’s exclusive economic zone.
In the Belgorod region, the scene of this breakthrough by anti-Putin Russians, “numerous” drone attacks took place overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, according to the local governor, after a series of bombardments in recent days.
“The night was not really calm. There were many drone attacks. the last two days remained hospitalized, three of which were in intensive care.
After expressing its “deep concern” on Tuesday, the Russian presidency changed its tone on Wednesday, ensuring that it was not overly concerned.
“Our military, our border guards and the competent services are doing their job,” swore Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Wagner’s boss, Evguéni Prigojine, has multiplied his usual criticism of the Russian army and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
“Reconnaissance and sabotage groups are entering the Belgorod region peacefully. Our defense is totally unable to counter them,” he said in an interview on Wednesday.
“What guarantee do we have that they won’t come to Moscow tomorrow?” he added.
On the judicial front, five foreigners, including three Britons, all released in a prisoner exchange in September 2022, will be tried in absentia in Russia from May 31 for having fought for Kiev, the Russian court announced on Wednesday. to judge them.
24/05/2023 21:13:19 – Moscow (AFP) – © 2023 AFP