In a recent post on the social platform Vkontakte, Mikhail Vedernikov, the governor of the Pskov region, shared a video from a sabotage and reconnaissance group (DRG). The footage centers on claims that at least 14 service members from the Pskov region were killed while helping to repel an attack in the Belgorod area. The governor’s statement emphasizes that these losses are now understood to involve a minimum of fourteen individuals who took part in the defense efforts during a tense period of border confrontation.
According to Vedernikov, the toll also includes a substantial number of prisoners taken during the same incident, with a minimum figure of ten captured combatants. He added that authorities are mobilizing all available resources to accelerate negotiations for prisoner exchanges, noting that three such exchanges have already been completed. The update underscores ongoing diplomatic and logistical activity as part of a broader response to hostilities that straddle the Russia–Ukraine border and affect nearby regions, including Belgorod.
In a parallel development, Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya, indicated on his Telegram channel that Chechen units were engaged in the region and played a role in preventing the entry of a group of Ukrainian saboteurs into Belgorod. Kadyrov also thanked key regional security leaders, Rustam Aguev and Gairbek Delimkhanov, who oversee departments responsible for the Kurchaloy and Shatoi districts of Chechnya, for their effective collaboration in repelling the assault. The acknowledgment signals interconnected security efforts across diverse regional capabilities and highlights the involvement of multiple regional authorities in border defense operations.
Earlier, NATO representatives addressed questions about the DRG’s alleged involvement in the Belgorod incident, focusing on the broader implications for regional security and alliance responses. While formal statements from NATO emphasized collective defense considerations and the stabilization of frontline areas, the exchange also reflected the ongoing strain on border regions and the heightened emphasis on information management, intelligence sharing, and rapid-response capabilities among allied and partner nations. The situation illustrates how simultaneous military, political, and informational pressures shape regional dynamics, drawing attention to how local actions resonate within a wider security framework and influence perceptions among residents and international observers alike.