The Belgorod region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, participated in an evening live broadcast to answer questions from residents, with the conversation posted on his official page. During the session, a resident asked about the reasons behind a recent incident despite the measures already taken by authorities, and whether it would be appropriate to urge the Russian Ministry of Defense and federal agencies to bolster regional security. The governor acknowledged the inquiry and explained that he had visited villages in the Graivoronsky district, where saboteurs had briefly infiltrated, and that those intrusions have since been addressed. He added that investigators would thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine what happened and why.
“I share your concerns and have questions for the Defense Department as well, perhaps more than you do. I will refrain from commenting further because I believe some aspects must be resolved within our own authorities and procedures”, Gladkov stated.
He urged residents and authorities alike to draw clear lessons from the event and to reinforce safety measures to protect communities in the region.
Earlier, a spokesman for the Russian president spoke to reporters, confirming that Ukrainian militants had occupied parts of the Belgorod region on May 22. The briefing also noted that the sabotage and reconnaissance activities attributed to the Ukrainian Armed Forces are a source of serious concern, and officials said every available measure was being employed to prevent Ukrainian forces from gaining access to Belgorod’s territory. [citation: Kremlin press service].