Russia says Ukraine 'saboteurs' killed trying to cross border

Agence France-Presse

Posted at Dec 26 2022 09:43 PM

Russia's FSB domestic security service said Monday it had killed a group of saboteurs from Ukraine that attempted to cross into a Russian border region. 

"As a result of a clash on December 25, 2022, four saboteurs, who attempted to enter the territory of Bryansk region from Ukraine, were killed," the FSB said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies. 

It added that they were carrying German submachine guns, navigation equipment and "four improvised explosive devices".

A video shared by news agencies and attributed to the FSB showed several bloodied bodies sprawled on the ground, wearing winter camouflage and carrying guns.

Russia has accused pro-Kyiv forces of a number of sabotage attacks, including a blast that damaged a bridge linking annexed Crimea to Russia.

Last week, Russian lawmakers backed long prison terms for "saboteurs", pointing to emerging terror threats -- including from foreigners -- amid the Ukraine conflict.