Russia to use Belgorod clashes to pose as war victim - British intelligence

That’s according to a report by the British Ministry of Defense, referring to intelligence data, Ukrinform saw.

Between May 19 and 22, 2023, Russian security forces highly likely clashed with partisans in at least three locations within Russia’s Belgorod region, near the Ukrainian border.

The identity of the partisans remains unconfirmed, but Russian anti-regime groups have already claimed responsibility, intelligence sources say.

According to the British Ministry of Defense, the most serious incident took place near the town of Grayvoron. Along with small arms fire fights, there was an uptick in drone or indirect fire attacks near the incidents. Russia has evacuated several villages and deployed extra security forces to the area.

“Russia is facing an increasingly serious multi-domain security threat in its border regions, with losses of combat aircraft, improvised explosive device attacks on rail lines, and now direct partisan action. Russia will almost certainly use these incidents to support the official narrative that it is a victim in the war," British intelligence said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, British intelligence in its previous war update said Russia was setting up a new "elite" assault aviation group codenamed "Storm" that would operate over Ukraine. The unit is likely to consist of at least one squadron of Su-24 FENCER and Su-34 FULLBACK fighter-bombers, as well as a squadron of attack helicopters.