KYIV: Reports emerged on Monday of intense fighting in the southern Russian region of Belgorod, as Russian troops battled against a Ukrainian “sabotage” group that had allegedly infiltrated the area.
The clash marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with Russian authorities introducing an “anti-terror regime” in Belgorod in response to the incident.
The incursion into Belgorod by members of the alleged “sabotage” group from Ukraine is believed to be the first of its kind since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The region has been a frequent target of shelling and attacks throughout the war, resulting in numerous casualties. In April, a Russian fighter jet accidentally dropped ammunition over Belgorod’s main city.
According to Russian authorities, the infiltration prompted President Vladimir Putin to be notified. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed that eight people had been injured in the fighting and efforts were underway to help residents evacuate the area. He termed the situation as “extremely tense” and expressed hope that the military would resolve the situation soon.
The “anti-terror regime” imposed in the southern region grants special powers to security services, including enhanced security measures and surveillance. This measure is reminiscent of the regime previously enforced in Chechnya between 1999 and 2009 during Russia’s military campaign in the region.
A group called the Freedom of Russia Legion, which opposes the Kremlin, claimed responsibility for the incursion into Belgorod. In a video released by a Telegram channel associated with the group, a spokesperson surrounded by armed men declared, “Russia will be free!” Ukrainian officials, however, denied any involvement and suggested that Russian “guerrilla groups” could be responsible.
The attack on the Belgorod region comes amid expectations of an upcoming Ukrainian offensive, although President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine is not yet prepared. Ukrainian forces reported that Dnipro, in the east of the country, was targeted with missiles and drones overnight. Russian attacks on the Donetsk region also resulted in casualties.
Ukraine denies Russia’s claims of capturing Bakhmut
Contrary to claims by the Russian mercenary group Wagner and the regular army that Bakhmut had fallen, Ukrainian authorities asserted that the fighting for the city was ongoing. Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar confirmed that Ukrainian troops continued to fight for control, emphasizing that the battle for strategic positions around the suburbs continued.
The conflict’s impact extended beyond the military realm, as attacks on the Dnipro region caused the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to go offline for several hours. This marked the seventh instance of the plant entering “blackout mode” since Russia took control in March 2022. However, Ukrainian authorities assured the public that the country’s energy system remained stable and capable of meeting consumer needs.
![NEW YORK: Pakistan's former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, leading Pakistan’s high-level parliamentary delegation, on Tuesday warned that India's aggressive actions pose a serious threat to peace in South Asia and urged the international community to take note of India's aggressive conduct. Bilawal was addressing a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York on recent regional developments after the military conflict between India and Pakistan. The Pakistani delegation is in New York to present Pakistan’s stance on the military escalation with India and to challenge New Delhi’s narrative at the global level. The visit is part of Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic outreach to brief key UN stakeholders on the alarming regional situation. The Pakistani delegation is also scheduled to arrive in Washington today, where it plans to engage with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, other senior officials, lawmakers, and think tanks till June 6. The team will also visit London and Brussels. Speaking at the press conference, Bilawal said that he wanted to use the opportunity to share Pakistan’s perspective on the recent military conflict with India in the wake of the Pahalgam attack and the way forward. Bilawal said that the “illegal strikes” launched by India as part of its ‘Operation Sindoor’ were “in violation of the UN Charter, international law”. He said the attacks had targeted civilian infrastructure, places of worship, energy infrastructure and innocent women and children. He said India had used the April 22 terrorist attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) Pahalgam as a pretext to launch the attack inside Pakistan. Following the Pahalgam incident, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered publicly to India that Pakistan was ready to be part of any impartial international investigation into this attack. “We did so because we were confident, our hands were clean and we had nothing to do with this terrorist attack. “We expressed our sympathy with the victims of terrorism and Pakistan has consistently and unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he said, adding that PM Sharif had immediately expressed Pakistan’s willingness to India and the global community to be part of any impartial international investigation. “Indian government refused Pakistan's offer and chose instead to conduct their illegal strikes. Pakistan only then acted in self-defence, we never initiated any violence against India,” Bilawal said. Bilawal emphasised that Pakistan never initiated hostilities against India but responded to Indian aggression by downing six Indian fighter jets. "The Pakistani military had responded with precision the night of the first Indian attack and only targeted and downed six planes because we believed those were the ones to release their load on Pakistan”. He stated that US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio played a vital role in achieving a ceasefire during heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours. “We’ve seen during the course of this conflict how quickly the escalation ladder between our two countries rose and the concern is that the next time there is such an incident, there may not be time for the international community to intervene before things get a lot worse. That is why it is absolutely important for Pakistan and the international community to continue to pursue dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path to peace.” He said Pakistan’s position was to hold a “comprehensive dialogue” with India that would include the issue of terrorism as well. The head of the Pakistani delegation said that no civilized nation can support the use of water as a weapon and urged the international community to play its part, questioning, "What would be the global reaction if someone’s lifeline was cut off?" He stressed that Pakistan has paid a heavy price in the fight against terrorism and has suffered the most. “The single largest number of terrorist attacks that take place in any one country is Pakistan. The single largest number of victims of terrorism is Pakistan. I myself have suffered at the hands of terrorists. My mother [Benazir Bhutto] was assassinated by the terrorists.” Bilawal also criticised India for targeting water reservoirs and civilian areas, including mosques, during its attacks. Calling negotiations the only path to peace, Bilawal reiterated that the unresolved Kashmir dispute remains the root cause of regional instability. He urged the global community to take notice of India’s aggressive conduct.](https://wenewsenglish.com/storage/2025/06/Bilawal-Bhutto-Zardari-300x180.jpg)
