The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, urged hunters and other armed residents to refrain from engaging saboteurs who might enter the area and to rely on professional military personnel to handle any threats.
During a live broadcast on a popular social network, a subscriber asked the district head how hunters and other armed civilians should respond in light of the recent Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group (DRG) incursion into the Grayvoron region. The question centered on whether armed civilians should use weapons against combatants they perceived as enemies.
Gladkov responded that such actions would be unacceptable. He explained the dangers involved, noting that uniforms across forces can look alike, with khaki clothing, and that some wear white armbands while others display yellow, red, or blue markers. He warned that firing could trigger a chain of tragic consequences.
According to the governor, there are enough soldiers in the area today to maintain security and protect civilians. He emphasized that if a threat arises in a frontline zone, it remains a highly serious situation, but that safety depends on everyone staying in position and following established procedures. His message stressed that the operation should be handled by trained professionals in accordance with the law.
Gladkov also reflected on the community in the Belgorod village of Kozinka, noting the uncertainty of whether all local hunters would have opened fire on a specific day, and acknowledging the potential for peaceful fatalities if civilians took independent action. He underscored that such scenarios must be avoided, with professional forces carrying out any necessary actions as dictated by legal authority.
Approximately 40,000 residents in the region hold gun licenses, including many hunters. The government has consistently highlighted the importance of restraint and adherence to official security protocols during periods of heightened threat. In related updates, official briefings around May 23 reported that more than 70 saboteurs were neutralized, along with the destruction of four armored vehicles and five pickup trucks during the counter-terrorism operation in the Belgorod area. These figures were released by the Russian Defense Ministry and are regularly referenced by authorities when detailing operational outcomes to the public. [citation: official defense ministry briefing, Belgorod security operations]