| Fighting in Russian territory |
| A rare cross-border assault in southern Russia by anti-Kremlin fighters aligned with Ukraine stretched into a second day yesterday, with reports of an explosion at a defense factory and skirmishes at a crossing. Some pro-Russian analysts feared that the attacks opened a new set of battlefield problems for Moscow. |
| Russia’s Ministry of Defense said that it had pushed back all of the pro-Ukrainian fighters across the border and that scores of “saboteurs” had been killed. The claim was disputed by people representing the anti-Kremlin fighters. A group called the Free Russia Legion, made up of Russians who have taken up arms for Ukraine, has claimed responsibility. |
| Ukraine has denied any direct involvement in the incursions, casting the border attacks as a sign of internal division in Russia. A Ukrainian deputy defense minister, Hanna Maliar, described the fighters as “Russian patriots” rebelling against the government of President Vladimir Putin. |
| On the ground: When the incursions began on Monday, smoke could be seen billowing from explosions, according to drone footage verified by The Times. Another video showed a soldier and an armored vehicle bearing Ukrainian markings about three miles into Russian territory. |
| In other news from the war: |
| A Russian court extended the detention of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal correspondent accused of espionage.Poland said it was ready to begin training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.China and Russia are holding talks this week after they found themselves under fire at the Group of 7 summit from countries that support Ukraine. |
