MOSCOW. June 5 (Interfax) - Russian forces thwarted an attempt by two Ukrainian sabotage groups to penetrate the Belgorod region near Novaya Tavolzhanka on Sunday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.
"Units of the Armed Forces and the Russian FSB's Border Service thwarted the attempt of two Ukrainian terrorist groups to penetrate the Belgorod region in the vicinity of Novaya Tavolzhanka yesterday," Konashenkov said at a press briefing on Monday.
"At about 1 p.m., the terrorists, covered by intensive artillery fire on civilian areas, tried to cross the Seversky Donets river and land on the outskirts of Novaya Tavolzhanka in the Belgorod region," he said.
Aircraft and artillery from the Western Military District's forces protecting the state border destroyed the enemy, Konashenkov said.
More than ten hostile soldiers were killed, and two boats and an armored vehicle were destroyed, he said.
"In addition, counterbattery strikes suppressed five Ukrainian mortar platoons and destroyed a Grad multiple rocket launcher near Volchansk in the Kharkov region, as well as two Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery systems that were firing at Russian territory," he said.