Ukraine, attack on Bryansk: Russia denounces “Ukrainian saboteurs”. Blinken-Lavrov together with the G20

The Kremlin accuses “Ukrainian saboteurs” of having invaded western Russia, in the Bryansk region, and of having opened fire on civilians, causing 2 deaths. New allegations that arise following the Kremlin’s complaint that Kiev launched drones on Russian territory, one of which would have arrived 100 kilometers from Moscow. A “terrorist attack”, as Russian President Vladimir Putin described it, who had to cancel a trip to southern Russia, described the events in Bryansk, pointing the finger at “neo-Nazi” militants who allegedly “saw a civilian car, with children on board, and they were fired upon.” According to the FSB, i.e. Russian 007, the situation then returned and the “Ukrainian nationalists” were pushed back across the border.

The exact circumstances are unclear, including what the strategic purpose of such an attack might be. If confirmed, it would be another indication, after the drone strikes, that Kiev could increase pressure on Moscow, exposing Russian defensive weaknesses, embarrassing the Kremlin and sowing unease among Russian civilians. The attack was claimed by a group calling itself the Russian Volunteer Corps, which in a video urging Russians to revolt said it had crossed the border, but without explaining what actions it had taken or what specific goals it wanted to achieve. The Russian Volunteer Corps has described itself as “a formation of volunteers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine”, but not much is known about the group and it is not clear if it has ties to the Ukrainian military.

The events in Bryansk came during India’s G20 foreign ministers’ meeting, which ended with no consensus on Ukraine. Russia and China refused to sign the final declaration on Ukraine contesting two paragraphs that were taken from the previous G20 declaration in Bali last year, which said the war in Ukraine was causing immense human suffering and exacerbating the weaknesses of the economy. global, arguing that international law must be upheld and that “the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible”.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the G20, for the first time since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, a brief meeting was held between the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergey Lavrov. A 10-minute meeting, US sources say. While Mosca was quick to clarify that this was a “moving” chat, not a date, and that it was Blinken who asked. According to the version filtered by US sources, Blinken raised three points with Lavrov: that the United States will support Ukraine in the conflict for as long as necessary to end the war, that Russia must reverse its decision to suspend participation in the New Start nuclear treaty and that Moscow should release the American Paul Whelan held in Russia. I told Lavrov that he must “engage in meaningful diplomatic action” that can produce a “just peace”, Blinken later told a news conference, adding that Moscow, however, showed “zero interest” in peace.

Meanwhile, Moscow accused the US of drone strikes: “Ukraine’s attempts to attack strategic Russian air bases would not have been possible without US assistance, including the provision of intelligence. We are aware of that.” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergei said Ryabkov. Accusation denied by Pentagon: Pentagon spokesperson General Pat Ryder called it “absurd”. “We are not at war with Russia,” Ryder said.