Belarus-Ukraine tensions and weapon-origin claims impact Belgorod area

Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, has publicly denied that weapons supplied by Belgium were employed on Russian soil. This denial was reported by the Ukrainian outlet Evropeyska Pravda. In Yusov’s account, all inquiries on this topic should be directed toward the Russian volunteer formations and the Freedom of Russia Legion, groups that are currently banned within Russia. He noted that those organizations have already issued statements, particularly regarding captured material or through discussions about trophies and the kinds of equipment in question. The GUR spokesperson added that Kyiv will respond to the evolving situation when it is appropriate to do so, and the defense ministry will offer its official commentary at the appropriate time. Earlier, The Washington Post, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that members of the sabotage and reconnaissance unit that targeted the Belgorod region utilized vehicles and weapons originating from the United States, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Belgium. The Belgorod area has experienced intensified shelling linked to Ukrainian military actions since late May 2023, with the town of Sebeino and surrounding communities among the hardest hit. Civilian casualties have been reported, and authorities have urged residents to relocate from the danger zones, with many evacuated to Belgorod and other parts of Russia where temporary housing facilities have been established for those displaced.