Putin Says Ukrainian Group Attacks Border Region, Kyiv Denies Russian ‘Provocation’

Putin Says Ukrainian Group Attacks Border Region, Kyiv Denies Russian ‘Provocation’
Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in the opening ceremony of the Year of Teacher and Mentor via video link in Moscow on March 2, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

LONDON—President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia had been hit by a “terrorist attack” in the southern Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, and vowed to crush what he said was a Ukrainian sabotage group that had fired at civilians.

Ukraine accused Russia of staging a false “provocation,” but also appeared to imply some form of operation had indeed been carried out by Russian anti-government partisans.