New developments after Russian territory raid

The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, wrote on the Telegram messaging app yesterday that the country’s air defense systems had shot down most of the drones that attacked Belgorod overnight, according to TASS. Mr. Gladkov also said that some of the UAVs damaged vehicles and buildings in Belgorod.

Quick Look: Day 454 of Operation, Russia Quells Cross-Border Raid; NATO Redraws Confrontation Plan

Kyiv says no involvement

Mr Gladkov also announced yesterday that nine people have not been discharged from hospitals and more than 550 people from the Grayvoronsky district of Belgorod province have remained in refugee centers since a cross-border raid by a sabotage group from across the border in Ukraine on Grayvoronsky on May 22. One civilian was killed in the raid, according to Mr Gladkov.

Earlier, two groups of armed men recorded videos saying they crossed the border into Russia and seized several villages in Belgorod province on May 22, according to The Kyiv Independent .

An abandoned armored vehicle in Belgorod province, seen on May 23, after the raid on May 22.

The Russian Defense Ministry described the raiders as a “reconnaissance-sabotage group” of between 50 and 200 people, using US-made armored vehicles, according to RT. The Russian Defense Ministry announced on May 23 that “more than 70 terrorists, four armored fighting vehicles and five pickup trucks were destroyed” in the clashes in Belgorod. The ministry also stressed that the remaining intruders were pushed back into Ukraine and “completely destroyed” by artillery fire. However, the armed group denied that claim, according to The Kyiv Independent.

Who are the two armed groups that claimed to have just raided Russia from Ukraine?

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote on Twitter that Kyiv had nothing to do with the raid in Belgorod. In addition, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said that the US government only provided equipment to Kyiv, not to any “paramilitary organizations outside the Ukrainian armed forces,” according to RT.

Big counterattack coming?

The raid comes as Ukraine prepares for a major counteroffensive. In an interview with NHK on May 23, Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said that Kyiv has enough weapons and the long-awaited counteroffensive will begin soon. Budanov also said that 90 percent of Russian attacks on Ukrainian troop and logistics formations to disrupt preparations for the counteroffensive have been stopped. Budanov also said that Ukraine was able to intercept those attacks with its improved air defense systems.

Is the Ukraine conflict likely to 'freeze'?

As of last night, there was no information about Russia's reaction to Mr. Budanov's statement. Meanwhile, TASS on May 24 quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as emphasizing that Russia shares the view that the conflict in Ukraine should not become a frozen conflict and that Moscow will achieve its goals through military operations or other available means.

Russia, China sign series of economic agreements

Russia and China signed a series of economic agreements on May 24 during Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin's two-day visit to China. "Today, relations between Russia and China are at an unprecedented high level," TASS quoted Prime Minister Mishustin as telling Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing. Later that day, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Mishustin, stressing that the two countries should further upgrade economic, trade and investment cooperation and expand cooperation in the energy sector, according to CCTV. Xi also said that China is ready to continue providing support on issues related to the core interests it shares with Russia.

Russia-China further economic ties with new grain corridor?

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