Russian military wipes out saboteurs near Ukraine border (VIDEO)

Russian forces have destroyed several temporary bases near the Ukrainian border used by sabotage units, the Defense Ministry said in a series of statements on Thursday. The Russian military has also released video clips purporting to show the strikes.

Last week, several groups, presumably made up of Russians fighting for Kiev, attempted to force their way from Ukraine into the country's Belgorod and Kursk regions. Moscow’s forces repelled the attacks. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Kiev's forces suffered more than 1,500 casualties, losing seven tanks, three Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and two armored personnel carriers.

In recent days, Ukrainian forces have intensified their shelling of Russia's border regions, killing and maiming multiple civilians.

In a post on its Telegram channel, the ministry shared footage apparently captured by a drone, showing “preemptive air and artillery strikes” on Ukrainian targets near the border with Belgorod Region.

Another video clip depicts the destruction of a Ukrainian sabotage unit in what appears to be a different wooded location adjacent to the frontier.  

The ministry also posted a video clip, reporting that its electronic warfare unit had detected the firing of Ukrainian multiple launch rocket systems and artillery from across the border. Acting on this information and the coordinates provided, a Russian Smerch ('Whirlwind') long-range multiple launch rocket system struck the Ukrainian positions, with drones providing real-time support.  

The ministry released similar footage and reports on Tuesday and Monday.