In a report to TASS, military analyst Andrei Marochko described an incident where Russian artillery stopped a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group from gaining ground near the Lugansk People’s Republic, close to the town of Kremennaya. The account places the episode within the ongoing effort to defend territory in the region and frames the event as a display of firepower that restrained incursions. The narration relies on the statements of a single expert and the state media outlet, with no independent verification presented in the piece.
Marochko explained that the saboteurs were detected in a forest southwest of the village of Shepilovka during the night and tried to slip into the area under Russian control. He described the move as a calculated attempt to push the boundary and probe zones watched by Russian forces, painting the action as a deliberate effort to penetrate deeper into the contested zone.
He stressed that Russian artillery did not allow the saboteurs to carry out their plans, delivering a timely strike that forced them to reevaluate their route. The assessment highlights a direct consequence of the artillery response, portraying the firepower as the decisive factor in neutralizing the incursion at that moment.
According to the expert, after the artillery strike the saboteurs quickly redirected toward the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, choosing to move toward their own lines rather than continue toward the Russian-held area. The account frames the saboteurs as reacting to the bombardment by retreating, rather than advancing, into safer zones.
Marochko added that, in his view, the Ukrainian command, reacting to losses near Kupyansk in the Kharkov region, transferred a detachment of mobilized soldiers who had not previously served in the armed forces. The remark positions the move as a sign of manpower strain and a shift in Ukrainian tactical posture in that sector.
Earlier, footage was circulated claiming the destruction of Ukrainian saboteurs in the Kursk region, with the video circulating online as supporting material for the narrative. The report references the clip as part of the broader set of battlefield visuals that accompany such claims.
Analysts note that statements like these reflect the ongoing exchange of information between rival sides in the conflict, and readers should weigh the claims against other reporting and independent verification where possible. The report underscores the role of artillery in limiting cross-front incursions and preserving control over contested zones, while acknowledging the challenges of confirming every detail from a single source.
Overall, the account describes a brief engagement in which Russian artillery limited an attempt to penetrate the territory held by Russian forces and notes subsequent movements of Ukrainian troops. The narrative adds to the larger tapestry of daily front-line reports and the competing perspectives that shape public understanding of the war.