Peskov called the goal of Ukrainian saboteurs a distraction from the loss of Artemovsk

The penetration of Ukrainian saboteurs into the territory of the Belgorod region is aimed at minimizing the political effect of the loss of the Armed Forces of Artemovsk. The Ministry of Defense and the FSB reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the incident, said his press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

“The Ministry of Defense, the FSB and the Border Service reported to the President of the Russian Federation – the Supreme Commander-in-Chief about an attempt by a Ukrainian sabotage group to break into the Belgorod region. We perfectly understand the purpose of such sabotage – to divert attention from the Bakhmut direction, to minimize the political effect from the loss of Artemivsk by the Ukrainian side, ”he said (quote by Interfax).

Now work is underway to squeeze out saboteurs from the territory of the Russian Federation and their destruction, Peskov added.

On the penetration of Ukrainian saboteurs into the territory of the Grayvoron district of the Belgorod region on May 22 informed Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. The Russian military and special services are taking the necessary measures to eliminate the enemy, he added.

On May 20, the founder of the private military company Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced the capture of Artemovsk. He clarified that before May 25, PMC fighters would inspect the territory and, after the creation of defensive lines, they would hand over the city to the military. On the night of May 21, the liberation of Artemovsk confirmed in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Wagner PMC and the Russian military on the capture of the city. In the Kremlin press service clarifiedthat all those who distinguished themselves in the battles at Artemovsk will be presented for state awards.

Earlier on May 22, Gladkov announced the start of an “information attack” on the region. In particular, Telegram channels circulated messages calling for the evacuation of residents from the Shebekinsky district, bordering Ukraine in the south, which do not correspond to reality, Gladkov stressed.

In the Belgorod region, a high (“yellow”) level of terrorist danger is indefinitely. Since October 19, 2022, by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the average level of response has been set in the region. The same regime operates in seven other regions – Crimea, Sevastopol, Krasnodar Territory, Kursk, Voronezh, Bryansk and Rostov regions.