Politics Russia reports attempted Ukrainian border breakthrough

Russian authorities in the Belgorod region report attempted Ukrainian advances across the border. The situation on the ground remains difficult, but is under control, wrote the region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, on his Telegram channel.

According to unconfirmed Russian media reports, there were battles at the Nekhoteyevka crossing and near Shebekino. Several hundred Ukrainian soldiers are said to be deployed there, some of them with tanks.

The Ukrainian side did not comment on the alleged attacks. A Ukrainian advance near Shebekino would be difficult because the Russian army has occupied Ukrainian territory in front of the border since its offensive in May and is located in the contested city of Vovchansk.

A Ukrainian offensive has been underway in the Kursk region, which neighbors Belgorod, since the beginning of August. This is the first time since the start of the war that Ukrainian ground troops have advanced into Russian territory. Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian invasion for more than two and a half years. The border region of Belgorod serves as a deployment area and logistics base for Russian troops. The large eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv is also being shelled from there. There are repeated Ukrainian counterattacks there.