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Military operation in Ukraine

What we know about attempts by Ukrainian forces to enter Belgorod, Kursk regions

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, at about 3 a.m. Moscow time on March 12, Ukrainian formations attempted to invade the Belgorod Region in three locations at once: near the settlements of Odnorobovka, Nekhoteyevka and Spodaryushino

© Sergey Bobylev/ TASS, archive

MOSCOW, March 12. /TASS/. Ukrainian forces attempted to cross the border in the Belgorod and Kursk regions, but were repelled and suffered losses, according to the Russian Defense Ministry and the Federal Security Service.

The agencies said the sabotage groups were unable to go into any settlements. TASS has put together key news about the incidents that have been reported so far.

Attempted attacks

- Kursk Region Governor Roman Starovoit was the first to officially report the attempted Ukrainian sabotage attack. According to the official, the attack near the village of Tyotkino was repulsed.

- The Federal Security Service, also known as the FSB, later said that since March 10, Russian border guards and military servicemen had foiled several attempts to cross the Russian border in the Belgorod and Kursk regions.

- According to the Russian Defense Ministry, at about 3 a.m. Moscow time on March 12, Ukrainian formations attempted to invade the Belgorod Region in three locations at once: near the settlements of Odnorobovka, Nekhoteyevka and Spodaryushino. They were hit by aviation, artillery and rocket forces.

- From 8 a.m. Moscow time to 8:25 a.m. Moscow time, four attacks were attempted near the village of Tyotkino in the Kursk Region, the ministry said.

- Ukrainian saboteurs tried to enter Russian regions amid heavy drone attacks. According to the latest data from the Defense Ministry and regional governments, at least 10 regions have been attacked since the start of March 12.

- The Defense Ministry and the FSB said the saboteurs were unable to enter any settlements.

Ukrainian losses

- According to the FSB, since March 10, Kiev has lost over 100 men, six tanks and a CAESAR self-propelled artillery unit, along with 20 armored fighting vehicles and a strongpoint.

- The Russian Defense Ministry has estimated Ukrainian losses during the attempted attack in the Belgorod Region to be 60 men, five tanks and an armored personnel carrier. The ministry did not provide data for the Kursk Region.

Consequences in Russia

- As of now, there are reports about two casualties of Ukrainian shelling: A woman was wounded in the village of Shebekino in the Belgorod Region, and a man was wounded in the village of Tyotkino in the Kursk Region.

- Damage was also reported to some buildings and a power line in the Belgorod Region.

Previous attempts

- This is Kiev’s first major attack on Russian border areas since 2023. Last year, Ukrainian saboteurs infiltrated the Bryansk Region in March, and they tried to enter the Belgorod Region in late May and early June.

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