Russian FSB eliminates 5 out of 6 Ukrainian saboteurs in Bryansk

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
16 Aug 2023 17:27
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The Russian FSB announces the elimination of a group of Ukrainian saboteurs, carrying explosives after they had attempted to cross the border into Russia's Bryansk to conduct provocations.

Russian Police and National Guard (Rosgvardia) servicemen patrol Red Square in front of the Spasskaya tower of the Kremlin in Moscow on October 24, 2022. (AFP)

Five out of six Ukrainian fighters had been eliminated by Russia's FSB, the Federal Security Service, according to Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz, as they attempted to infiltrate Russia through the western Bryansk region bordering Ukraine.

Bogomaz said in a statement, "Thanks to the well-coordinated joint actions of the units of the Russian Defense Ministry and the Border Directorate of the FSB [Federal Security Service] of Russia in the Bryansk Region today at 7.00 [04:00 am GMT] an attempt to enter the territory of the Bryansk Region by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group consisting of six militants was stopped. Five saboteurs were killed. We are thankful for our defenders!"

Earlier, an FSB statement noted that "the FSB of the Russian Federation and forces of the defense ministry in the border Starodubsky district in the Bryansk region prevented an attempt to infiltrate the territory of the Russian Federation," reaffirming that "four saboteurs were eliminated."

According to the statement, the group carried "foreign weapons and explosive devices" and planned "provocations and sabotage actions on Russian territory." Significantly, Sputnik reported that the group had FPV drones alongside stickers saying: "Property of the FSB of Russia," in addition to Russian symbols.

Russia thwarts a drone attack on Kaluga region

Earlier in the day, Russia's air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the Kaluga region.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Kiev government "deployed these UAVs in an attempted terrorist attack against targets in the Kaluga region."

The incident occurred at around 5 am Moscow time (02:00 GMT). Fortunately, there were no casualties or material damage resulting from the thwarted attack.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that their air defense systems detected the UAVs in a timely manner and effectively neutralized the threat. "An attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack using three unmanned aerial vehicles against facilities in the Kaluga region was foiled today around 5 a.m. Moscow time [02:00 GMT]. Russian air defense systems timely detected and destroyed all UAVs," the Ministry said.

This comes just a few days after Russian air defense systems thwarted a Ukrainian aerial attack on Crimea composed of 20 attack drones.

At the time, air defense systems managed to destroy 14 UAVs while the remaining six were disabled by electronic jamming systems.