Knowing in advance of Ukraine's attack plot, Mr. Putin sent special forces to intercept it.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu told Russian radio and television station VGTRK on March 16 that President Putin had been informed about Ukraine's plans to use special reconnaissance groups to cross the border. The plan was discovered by Russia two weeks before the latest border attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to have withdrawn conscripts from the border and replaced them with special forces ahead of the Ukrainian offensive.

"The commander-in-chief ordered the withdrawal of forces consisting of conscripts from the border and their replacement by professional soldiers, volunteers and special forces. That was done," said journalist Zarubin.

Since March 12, Ukrainian gunmen have been said to have repeatedly crossed into Russian territory, carrying out numerous sabotage attacks in Belgorod and Kursk provinces. President Putin said these "militarily senseless" criminal acts were aimed at disrupting the Russian presidential election, which took place from March 15-17.

Russian soil attacked, President Putin announced to punish Ukraine

Mr Putin suggested that the escalation could be a publicity stunt by Ukraine to promote some military advances to its domestic audience and to Western backers. He said that the Ukrainian leadership would never intimidate the Russian people and would only help unite Moscow.

Mr Putin said Russia estimated that the Ukrainian army had deployed more than 2,500 servicemen, about 35 tanks and 40 armored vehicles to attack multiple positions along the border. The leader claimed that the entire attack had been repelled and that Ukraine had suffered heavy losses.

A tank of an armed group in Ukraine was destroyed after a recent attack on Russia's Belgorod province.

According to TASS, the situation in the border area remains tense due to continued heavy shelling by Ukraine. On March 15, Belgorod Mayor Valentin Demidov said that three people were injured in the shelling of the city.

In Belgorod Oblast, about 400 people from three border villages, including Kozinka, were evacuated due to shelling by Ukrainian forces. According to Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, local residents are not panicking and are bravely coping with the high-risk situation.

Ukraine did not comment but reported that Russia had hit 14 communities in the border province of Sumy in 69 attacks on March 15. At least 378 explosions were recorded in the region in the past 24 hours, according to The Kyiv Independent .

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/biet-truoc-am-muu-tan-cong-cua-ukraine-ong-putin-dieu-luc-luong-dac-nhiem-don-dau-185240316104804898.htm