Russian forces appear incapable of ousting anti-Putin Russian troops who crossed into Russian territory earlier this week and show no signs of leaving.
In addition to capturing a platoon or more of Russian soldiers who surrendered, the Ukrainian allies have now forced Russian authorities to close all schools and shopping malls in the affected regions as fighting escalates. JL
Andrew Carey and Maria Kostenko report in CNN:
All schools and colleges in parts of the Russian region of Belgorod will be closed on Monday and Tuesday following an increase in Ukrainian attacks on the territory, the region’s governor announced. Schools and colleges in the affected districts have effectively been closed from Tuesday evening last week. Shopping malls will also be closed Sunday and Monday.Ukrainian groups of Russian fighters on Tuesday mounted a cross-border attack in Belgorod while Belgorod city suffered heavy drone strikes and shelling. The attacks have brought the war in Ukraine to Russians largely isolated from the conflict.