WASHINGTON: The US has distanced itself from intervening in Russia after Moscow said it defeated armed separatists who crossed the country via the border from Ukraine.
One of the largest cross-border assaults since Russia invaded its neighbour last year resulted in attacks on parts of the border district of Belgorod on Monday, the BBC said.
Later, Russia released images of destroyed or abandoned Western military vehicles, including the US Humvees tanks
The US insisted that it did not “encourage or enable strikes inside of Russia.”
“The US is “sceptical at this time of the veracity of these reports,” a state department spokeswoman said, acknowledging reports “circulating on social media and elsewhere” that US-supplied weapons were used.
“Ukraine will decide the conduct of this war’s conduct,” Matthew Miller said at a news briefing on Tuesday.
After being shelled, villages in the border region of Belgorod were evacuated. The assailants, according to Russia were Ukrainian fighters. Russia said 70 assailants were killed.
However, Kyiv denies any participation, and two Russian paramilitary organisations that are hostile to Russian President Vladimir Putin claim to be responsible.
After the raid on Monday, Moscow declared a counterterrorism operation, allowing the government further authority to stifle communication and public movement.
The restrictions were eventually relaxed the next day, and even then, one of the paramilitary organisations claimed it still had authority over a “small, but our own piece of the Motherland”.
According to the governor of Belgorod, there was one civilian fatality and several injuries due to the violence.
Later, Vyacheslav Gladkov reported on Tuesday evening that a drone had once again attacked Belgorod, dropping an explosive device that caused damage
