There is ongoing fighting in southern Russia as armed groups continue to launch cross-border attacks from Ukraine. Moscow has responded by targeting the “terrorists” with artillery fire.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the besieged Belgorod region, confirmed on Sunday that clashes had erupted on his side of the border. He also acknowledged for the first time that pro-Ukrainian forces had taken Russian prisoners of war during their incursions.
Gladkov stated that he was willing to negotiate for the release of the captive soldiers and offered to meet with the armed groups for the exchange. He said, “A sabotage group came in. There is combat in [the] Novaya Tavolzhanka [border village]. I hope they will all be destroyed.”
The pro-Kyiv Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion have called on the Belgorod governor to retrieve the captive soldiers. Gladkov responded by saying, “The only thing stopping me from negotiating with them is our guys that are in their hands, maybe they are already dead.”
Article from www.aljazeera.com rnrn
