Russia to fortify border with Ukraine amidst fear of shelling

IRYNA BALACHUK - THURSDAY, 12 MAY 2022, 13:29

The Kremlin has stated the need to strengthen the security of areas bordering Ukraine, as the Belgorod region has allegedly been shelled repeatedly from Ukraine territory.

Source: TASS and RBC-Ukraine

Details: Putin's spokesman Dmitry Pieskov was asked to comment on reports that a civilian had been killed and several injured in shelling in Russia's Belgorod region.

Quote from Peskov: "First of all, this is a situation that makes it necessary to take additional measures to strengthen the security of the areas adjacent to Ukraine."

Details: Putin's spokesman added that the Russian military could talk about other measures that need to be taken in connection with the alleged "attacks".

Background:  

• Residents in Russia's Belgorod region bordering Ukraine have recently heard what the Russian Federation calls "blasts" on several occasions. There have also been at least a few fires in the region over the past month - at oil depots and military installations.
• The governor of Belgorod Region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, claimed that the fire that broke out at an oil depot in Russia's Belgorod on 1 April was caused by an airstrike from two Ukrainian helicopters that entered Russian territory at low altitude.
• On 26 April, Gladkov said that Ukraine had allegedly shelled the villages of Golovchino and Zhuravlyovka.
• On 27 April, there were fires in the Belgorod, Voronezh and Kursk regions of the Russian Federation. More specifically, an ammunition depot near the village of Staraya Nelidovka caught fire.
• On 1 May, a fire broke out on the territory of one of the facilities of the Russian Defence Ministry in the Belgorod Region of Russia.
• Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, called the explosions in the Belgorod, Voronezh and Kursk regions of the Russian Federation "an absolutely natural process" and "divine intervention in the affairs of sinners".