Russian sabotage group attempts to break into Kharkiv region, battle ensues

Photo: A Russian sabotage group tried to break into Kharkiv region (Getty Images)

The Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group (SRG) tried to break through to the Kharkiv region. A battle ensued, which the Ukrainian border guards successfully repelled, according to the spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Andrii Demchenko.

"Yesterday (June 26 - ed.), Russians tried to conduct hostilities in the direction of the village of Sotnytskyi Kozachok, in the Kharkiv region," he says.

According to the spokesperson, it was a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group that entered the territory of Ukraine, and a small arms battle ensued.

"This was also preceded by Russian shelling using other means of destruction to fire at Ukrainian defenders, but fortunately, this attack was repelled by the Ukrainian border guards. An anti-sabotage reserve was sent to the site to clear the area. Therefore, we must be prepared for any situation," says Demchenko.

He adds that the number of Russian subversive reconnaissance groups in the Sumy region has decreased over the last period, while in the Kharkiv region, no such activity was observed at first.

"But we see that the Russians can continue its subversive activities in any direction," states Demchenko.

Russian subversive reconnaissance groups in Ukraine

Russian subversive reconnaissance groups are constantly trying to break through to the territory of Ukraine. Most often this happens in Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv regions.

At the same time, Russian subversive groups have begun to change their tactics to penetrate deeper into Ukraine. The saboteurs' activity is facilitated by the terrain.

In early May, a Russian subversive group tried to break through in the Kharkiv region, but the Russians were also stopped.