Ukrainian troops "destroyed" a command submit of the Third Motor Rifle Division of the twentieth Military of the Russian Armed Forces close to the village of Demidovka in Russia's Belgorod Oblast on March 18, Ukraine's Common Employees reported on March 20.

The information comes days after Moscow claimed that Ukrainian troops allegedly launched an offensive on Belgorod Oblast. Russian studies emerged on March 18 forward of the cellphone name between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Andrii Kovalenko, the pinnacle of the counter-disinformation division at Ukraine's Nationwide Safety and Protection Council, rejected Russia's claims, whereas President Volodymyr Zelensky neither confirmed nor denied Ukrainian operations in Belgorod Oblast.

In line with the Ukrainian navy, Russia used the command submit to plan and conduct fight operations towards Ukrainian troopers in Sumy Oblast.

Sumy Oblast borders Russia's Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts. Amid Russia's breakthrough in embattled Kursk Oblast, Zelensky mentioned on March 15 that Russian troopers had been amassing on the border to organize to launch an assault on Ukraine's northeastern area.

Demidovka lies round 5 kilometers (three miles) east of the Ukrainian border.

"Its (command submit's) elimination considerably reduces the power of the models of the Third Motor Rifle Division of the Russian Federation to function successfully on the battlefield," the assertion learn.

The Kyiv Impartial couldn’t confirm these claims.

"We’ve seen a brand new focus of troops on the border with Sumy Oblast. We are able to see what they need to do — they need to strike Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts," Zelensky mentioned on March 18 when requested about alleged Ukraine's offensive on Belgorod Oblast. "We is not going to allow them to do it so simply."

Belgorod Oblast is often utilized by Russia to launch strikes towards Ukrainian territory. On the similar time, Belgorod Oblast authorities have repeatedly accused Ukraine of launching assaults towards the area and Belgorod metropolis all through the full-scale battle.

Just lately, a number of clashes have been reported within the area amid Ukraine's ongoing cross-border incursion targeted on neighboring Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine denies Russian claims of thwarted attempt to invade Belgorod Oblast — here’s what we knowOn March 18, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had stopped a significant Ukrainian ground assault from entering Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, a claim that Ukraine swiftly denied as a propaganda effort.The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta