MOSCOW, March 16. /TASS/. Russian Armed Forces personnel and Federal Security Service border guards have thwarted the Ukrainian armed forces’ latest attempt to penetrate the borderline Belgorod Region near the village of Kozinka, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters.
According to the ministry, Kiev lost up to 50 servicemen in its latest failed attempt to storm the border. Ukraine’s total losses from several such failed attempts recently amount to 1,500 troops and several dozen armored vehicles.
TASS has gathered the key information currently available about the Ukrainian border penetration campaign
Breakthrough attempt at Kozinka
- Up to 30 Ukrainian saboteurs and foreign mercenaries made a landing on two Mi-8 helicopters within a kilometer of the Russian border around 4:30 p.m. Moscow time (1:30 p.m. GMT) on March 14, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. The group started moving towards Kozinka, stopping at houses on the outskirts of the village.
- When the group attempted to proceed further, it was stopped by Russian servicemen and border guards. The border zone near Kozinka had been mined remotely to prevent Ukrainian reserves from approaching.
- Some saboteurs tried to occupy one of the houses during their retreat. Others came to the mine field, where they were eliminated. Simultaneously, a unit manning a Tornado multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) eliminated a team of Ukrainian troops on a mission to evacuate casualties.
- Control over Kozinka was fully restored, and the area where blocking Ukrainian saboteurs were located was cleared, the ministry added.
Ukrainian losses
- Losses by Kiev’s forces in the Ukrainian saboteurs' raid totaled over 50, according to the Russian Defense Ministry’s estimates.
- Total losses experienced by Kiev forces in attempts to penetrate into Russia over the past three days reached over 1,500 fighters, among whom 500 were killed. The Russian Army destroyed 18 Ukrainian tanks and 23 armored combat vehicles, the ministry specified.
Previous penetration attempts
- The first attempt to break through the border was reported on March 12. The penetration was attempted in the Belgorod Region near the villages of Odnorobovka, Nekhoteyevka and Spodaryushino, and in the Kursk Region near the village of Tyotkino.
- On March 14, Kursk Region Governor Roman Starovoit reported a new attempt, thwarted by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Russian military near Tyotkino. The Federal National Guard Service confirmed this information.
- The same day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported a repelled attack near Spodaryushino. According to the ministry, Kiev lost up to 195 troops and 15 pieces of equipment, including five tanks.
- On March 15, the ministry emphasized that all attempts to break into the Belgorod and Kursk regions made on March 12-14 had been repelled.
Situation in the Belgorod and Kursk regions
- The situation in borderline regions remains tense, as they are still being massively shelled from Ukraine.
- On March 15, three people were injured during the shelling of Belgorod, city Mayor Valentin Demidov said.
- In the Belgorod Region, around 400 people, residing in three borderline villages, including Kozinka, were evacuated due to the shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces. According to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, local residents are not panicking and are coping courageously with the high-risk situation.
- Starovoit reported the shelling of the village of Gogolevka, Sudzhansky District, Kursk Region. Three houses as well as household outbuildings and a gas pipeline were damaged.