In the weeks before Ukraine’s counteroffensive – and as Ukraine’s military activity in Russian-occupied areas of its country increased in intensity – there have been reports of attacks on the other side of the border directed against Russian targets.
Ground raids in the Belgorod region of Russia, adjacent to the north-eastern frontier of Ukraine, appear to have upped the ante. Until relatively recently, virtually all Russian combat operations had been conducted on Ukrainian territory. Now Russian units must also be diverted to face their enemies on their own soil.
These operations have not been conducted by the regular armed forces of Ukraine, but by various non-state armed groups, for whom Kyiv has denied all responsibility.
