Russia claims offensive of Ukrainian Armed Forces on Belgorod Oblast. What is Ukraine's response?
Russian media stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly tried to launch offensive actions on the border with Belgorod Oblast. Kyiv explained what was happening in the border area.
The Russian Telegram channels Baza and Mash reported an attack. These statements were commented on by Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council.
According to Russian "milbloggers", overnight into March 18, the Ukrainian military allegedly began to pull equipment and personnel to the area on the border of the Belgorod and Kursk oblasts.
Several armored groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly tried to break through to the Krasnoyaruzhsky district of Belgorod Oblast, Russian sources write. The equipment was moving from Sumy Oblast.
The Russian Federation claims that a battle took place and Ukrainian equipment was destroyed. Currently, they are reporting "active artillery work."
The head of the Center for Countering Disinformation commented on these statements as follows: "They came up with it themselves, they won themselves, that's what often happens with Russians."
According to him, fighting in the border area continues almost constantly throughout the large-scale war due to the activity of Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups, artillery "duels", and attacks on the territory of Ukraine.
"It is not surprising that it is now very favorable for the Russians to incite a firestorm before Trump's conversation with Putin. Their main information strategy is to accuse Ukraine of unwillingness to end the war, although in reality they are attacking from the front, as well as from the air. And it is Putin who is delaying Trump's proposal to cease fire," Kovalenko argued.
Today, on March 18, US President Donald Trump plans to contact Russian leader Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.