**Russia Claims Ukraine Attempted to Enter Belgorod Oblast**
The Russian Defense Ministry said on March 18 that the Ukrainian Armed Forces tried to enter Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, but were stopped by Russian forces. This news came just before a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.
**Denials from Ukraine**
Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, said the claims made by the Russian Defense Ministry are not true. The statement also suggested that Ukraine launched an attack on Belgorod Oblast to “discredit Trump’s peace initiatives”.
**Russian Response**
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine carried out five attacks towards the settlements of Demidovka and Prilesye. However, all these attacks were reportedly repelled by Russian forces using artillery fire, drones, and border protection units.
**Unverified Claims**
The Ukrainian authorities did not comment on this statement from the Russian Defense Ministry. The Kyiv Independent was unable to verify these claims.
**Conflict History**
Belgorod Oblast has been involved in conflict with Ukraine for some time now. It borders Ukraine’s Sumy, Kharkiv, and Luhansk oblasts, and is often used by Russia to launch attacks against Ukrainian territory.