Russia: US equipment used in border raid shows growing Western role in Ukraine

FILE PHOTO: A still image from video, released by Russia's Defence Ministry, shows Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during what it said to be the inspection of the headquarters of Russian forces fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region in the course of a military conflict in Ukraine, at an unknown location, in this image taken from handout footage released May 19, 2023. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

The Kremlin said on Wednesday the use of U.S.-made military hardware by pro-Ukrainian fighters who conducted a raid on a Russian border region this week was testament to the West's growing involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

The Russian military said on Tuesday it had routed militants who attacked the Russian border region of Belgorod with armoured vehicles the previous day, killing more than 70 "Ukrainian nationalists" and pushing the remainder back into Ukraine.