May 24,2023: Russia has said more than 70 attackers were killed in its operation to repel cross-border raiders who entered the country’s Belgorod region from Ukraine and battled with Russian forces for an estimated 24 hours before retreating from Russian territory.
Russia said it had deployed jets and artillery on Tuesday to destroy the armed groups that penetrated the border region in the most audacious attack on Russian territory since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine last year.
Authorities said 13 people were injured by artillery and mortar fire during the fighting and that a woman died during evacuations on Monday. A second civilian was reported killed in the village of Kozinka.
Nine border villages were evacuated during the fighting, according to Russian officials.
Russia’s defence ministry spokesman, Igor Konashenkov, said local troops, air strikes and artillery had routed the attackers and what remained of the force was pushed “back to the territory of Ukraine, where they continued to be hit by fire until they were completely eliminated”.
